EMPERICAL STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AGRIPRENEURS IN ABOH MBAISE LGA IN IMO STATE

ABSTRACT The work were aimed at carrying out an empirical analysis of the characteristics of agripreneurs in Aboh Mbaise L. G.A. The specific objectives include analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of agripreneurs, identification of the agripreneurs hip undertaken in Aboh Mbaise L.G.A, Analysis of the characteristics of agripreneurs and identification of major constraints faced by agripreneurs in Aboh Mbaise L.G.A, data were collected from seventy five respondents using structured questionnaires, the result revealed that 29.33% of agripreneurs were within the age bracket of 40-49, 60% were female, 38.67% attained both secondary and tertiary education, 40%) were married and 34.67% had their household size of 9-12 persons. The result also showed that palm oil milling (96%) and fish marketing were among the major agripreneurs hip enterprises identified in Aboh Mbaise LGA. The result further revealed that five characteristics of agripreneurs in Aboh Mbaise were high, above the mean level 2.0. They include decision making ability with mean of 2.28, innovative idea with 2.70 mean, self confidence with 2.13 mean, ability to grow nascent business to maturity with 2.13 mean and profit maximization with a mean of 2.46. The work also showed that three characteristics of agripreneurs had their mean below 2.0. They include motivation with a mean of 1.96, risk taking ability with a mean of 1.88 and ability to analyze information and opportunities with a mean of 1.26. the result also showed that among the constraints faced by agripreneurs in Aboh Mbaise, lack of capital ranked first with 98.67% while illiteracy ranked eight with 74.67%). The work recommended among other that the government and financial bodies should improve access to capital and create supportive policies to enhance agripreneurial success.