Exploring the concept of entrepreneurial identity in youth agripreneur program

ABSTRACT

This study aims to evaluate the concept of entrepreneurial identity in the AgroBiz youth agripreneur program and the potential implications of agripreneurship in shaping the future of farming in Brunei. An exploratory study was applied to gain insight into agriculture students and course facilitators’ perceptions of agripreneurship training using focus group discussion to acquire comprehensive data. Thematic analysis was used to identify emerging agripreneurship and entrepreneurial identity themes. Research findings indicated that incorporating business-innovative practices into vocational agriculture training can instil young farmers with an entrepreneurial identity. The three critical issues addressed in the AgroBiz project: mindset, agribusiness, and agrotechnology, are considered essential components of manifesting the entrepreneurial identity. The research findings may not be comprehensive enough to evaluate the long-term contributions of AgroBiz at the industry level due to the small sample. Nevertheless, AgroBiz is a helpful instrument in nurturing change in the youth and the farming community.

KEYWORDS:

• Entrepreneurial identity
• agripreneurship
• youth
• agribusiness
• agrotechnology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Universiti Brunei Darussalam [UBD/RSCH/1.8/FICBF(b)/2018/005.].