Modeling Entrepreneurial Competence Areas As A Strategy To Induce Better Agricultural Performance In Zimbabwe

Abstract

Though Zimbabwe is an agro-based economy, there has been a continued decrease in the sectorial contribution of agriculture to the gross domestic product (GDP). The reliance on government inputs support has stifled innovativeness and creativity by downplaying entrepreneurial competency as a necessity in favour of inputs emphasis resulting in a skills gap. The rationale is based on a simplistic view that inputs support leads to high output yet there are other factors which this study seeks to explore and provide a model to plug knowledge gaps in this area. This study employed a positivist philosophy and its intent was to determine the effect of entrepreneurial competences on Agricultural Performance. The study used a sample of 384 farmers as respondents. A Spearman’s rank order correlation was run to determine the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and agricultural performance and there was a strong, positive correlation, rs = 0.946, p <0.05. On the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance), the polynomial model of action significantly predicted agricultural performance, F (2, 381) = 1542.612, p <0.05. The positive beta weights showed that the increase of entrepreneurial competences also increases the agricultural performance of farmers. The study recommends that the Government of Zimbabwe implements an ‘agro-entrepreneurial framework’ which entails the training of farmers in entrepreneurial competences. Government needs also to identify a pool of farmers who will be trained in entrepreneurial competences and be supported with capital and be monitored. The Education 5.0 policy can be roped in and Universities can train and incubate farmers in their localities on entrepreneurial competences. The industrial hubs existing under education 5.0 can be adapted to be the commercial hubs for the agricultural business activities in Zimbabwe.