Abstract
ABSTRACT In sub-Saharan Africa, where the professional insertion of graduates remains a major challenge, entrepreneurship represents an alternative to youth unemployment. This study investigates the predictors of agribusiness entrepreneurial intentions amongst undergraduate agricultural students in the Republic of Benin. A sample of 351 final year agricultural students was selected from universities. The data were collected through structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression. The findings showed that 44.16% of respondents were willing to start their own agribusiness venture after graduation with a preference for agro-processing enterprises (35.48%) and crop production enterprises (26.45%). The significant factors that influence agricultural students’ entrepreneurial intention in agribusiness were age, their major field of study, type of university attended, previous experience in agribusiness, a role model as a friend, and perception of agribusiness environment. The study suggests the establishment of clubs for agribusiness entrepreneurship in agricultural faculties and universities; showcasing of young entrepreneurs in agribusiness through national competitions, and events, such as “Agri-Enterprise Week” at universities, inviting young agribusiness entrepreneurs to share their experiences with the students in the next generation as guests lecturer; and the creation by the government of a conducive agribusiness environment for youth graduates. In the light of these insights, several paths for future research emerge.
Highlights
Youth unemployment remains a critical challenge in developing countries, especially in SubSaharan Africa (SSA) where the rate of youth unemployment is one of the highest in the world (Page 2012; Pieters 2013)
One of the good options to change the mindset of students and attract them in agribusiness as self-employment after graduation, is the creation of a conducive agribusiness environment for the successful integration of young graduates through the restriction of taxes for youth entrepreneurs, improved access to inputs, and structural investments to improve the competitiveness of the economy (ACED 2017; World Bank 2017a; World Bank 2017b)
Further results showed that the undergraduate agricultural students’ willingness to enter into agribusiness as self-employment venture after graduation is associated with age, students’ major, type of university attended, experience in agribusiness, friend role model, and overall perception towards agribusiness environment
Summary
Youth unemployment remains a critical challenge in developing countries, especially in SubSaharan Africa (SSA) where the rate of youth unemployment is one of the highest in the world (Page 2012; Pieters 2013). This rate is 3.5 times higher, compared to the adult unemployment rate, reflecting the disadvantage of this cohort (15-24 years old) in the job market in SSA (AERC 2014). Agricultural sector, the largest employment sector in Benin, offers opportunities in terms of employment and economic prosperity It accounts for 25% of GDP (World Bank 2017b), and employs over 47% of the workforce (INSAE 2016). The present study is in alignment with policy formulation, and aims to identify the key determinants behind undergraduate students’ willingness to start own agribusiness as self-employment venture after graduation in the Republic of Benin
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