Geography and Human Relationships

Geography and Human Relationships

Factors Affecting Agricultural Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition among Members of Omid Entrepreneurship Fund of Fars Province: With Emphasize of the Mediating Role of Social Capital and Entrepreneurial Alertness

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
10.22034/gahr.2025.534793.2535
Abstract
Identifying entrepreneurial opportunities has a decisive effect on business success. The overall aim of the present study is to analyze the factors influencing the recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities among owners of agricultural businesses in the Omid Entrepreneurship Fund of Fars Province. In this research, a survey method was used to collect the required information through a questionnaire. Its face and content validity were confirmed by faculty members of Shiraz University, and its reliability was also examined through a pilot study on a sample of 30 individuals outside the main sample (Barekat Entrepreneurship Fund). The studied population included members of the Omid Entrepreneurship Fund in Fars who had active agricultural businesses. According to the stratified random sampling method, a sample of 117 members of the Omid Entrepreneurship Fund from the four counties of Shiraz, Kherameh, Marvdasht, and Arsanjan was selected. Path analysis findings showed that variables such as socio-economic conditions, the presence of supportive policies and regulations, financial support, previous entrepreneurial experience, creativity, self-efficacy, risk-taking, the ability to perceive values and needs, the ability to influence others and create positive reactions, human capital, social capital, and entrepreneurial alertness were among the factors influencing the recognition of agricultural entrepreneurial opportunities. Holding personal development workshops, improving the business environment, the formation and development of enterprise activities and professional associations for agricultural businesses, strengthening strong communication and interactions with organizations such as the Technical and Vocational Education Organization, vocational schools, the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, the Engineering Organization, and applied science centers, and categorizing small and medium-sized businesses into industrial clusters to enhance the recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities and business development are among the most important suggestions of the research.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 29 July 2025

  • Receive Date 15 July 2025
  • Accept Date 29 July 2025