Antecedents Of Agropreneurship Intention And Behaviour Among Malaysian Gen Y: A Longitudinal Approach
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Date
2017-02
Authors
Yusoff, Asliza
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
In redefining new and modern agriculture, the concept of agropreneurship is gradually getting attention in both, agriculture and entrepreneurship areas. However, compared to service and manufacturing sectors, the agriculture sector in Malaysia has always been the least preferred place for the younger generation. Realising this issue, the government via its 11th Malaysian Plan has been targeting to modernise this sector by the year 2020. In order to achieve this target, one of the strategies listed by the government is to produce more young agropreneurs. It therefore signals the need to examine factors that influence the creation of the actual agropreneurship behaviour among Malaysian young generation. This study was grounded by the Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour, the Entrepreneurial Event Model and the Regulatory Focus Theory. Hence, a more holistic research model was developed to examine agropreneurial intention in the context of Gen Y agricultural students in Malaysia and how influential factors at three integrated levels can enhance agropreneurial intentions through entrepreneurial drive. This research also investigated the relationship between agropreneurial intention and actual agropreneurship behaviour via a 6-month longitudinal study. In addition, it also examined how entrepreneurial competencies moderate the relationship between agropreneurial intention and actual agropreneurship behaviour. Data were collected from 239 Gen Y agricultural graduates from six public higher educational institutions in Malaysia via online survey questionnaire developed from related literature. The data collected were then analysed using partial least squares - structural equation modelling via Smart PLS3. Findings indicated that individual level factors (attitude towards agropreneurship and perceived behavioural control) institutional level factors (curriculum and content of agropreneurship education and agropreneurship experiential learning) and social level factors (subjective norm, perceived importance of social networking and perceived availability of government support) have significant positive impact on entrepreneurial drive. In the relationship between the mediating variable and the dependent variable, it was found that entrepreneurial drive has a significant positive relationship with agropreneurial intention. Also, the study found that after 6-month period, agropreneurial intention significantly and positively impacts agropreneurship behaviour of Gen Y agricultural graduates. Attitude towards agropreneurship, perceived behavioural control, curriculum and content of agropreneurship education, subjective norm and perceived availability of government support were found to have a significant indirect effect on agropreneurial intention via entrepreneurial drive as a mediator. The moderating effect of entrepreneurial competencies on the relationship between agropreneurial intention and agropreneurship behaviour was not found in this research. Theoretical, practical and methodological contributions of the research findings were discussed. The findings of this study are useful to both academics and policy makers who wish to understand the factors that contribute to the development of agropreneurial intention and behaviour among Gen Y individuals so that more young and skilful agropreneurs can be groomed. Finally, limitations of the research were explained and suggestions for future research were also presented.
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Keywords
Relationship between agropreneurial intention , and actual agropreneurship behaviour