Entrepreneurial Promotion among Farmers: the Early Impacts

The development of entrepreneurial competences of farmers has been pointed out as a necessary condition for the modernization of land in facing the phenomenon of globalization. However, the educational processes involved in such a development have been studied little, especially in emerging economies. This research aims to enlighten some of the critical issues behind the early stages of the transformation of farmers into entrepreneurs, through in depth interviews with farmers, entrepreneurial promoters and public officials participating in a public pilot project in Mexico. Although major impacts were expected only in the long run, important positive changes in the mind set of farmers and other participants were found in early stages of the intervention. Apparently, the farmers started a process of becoming more conscious about the importance of preserving the aquiferous resources, as well as more market and entrepreneurial oriented.

Authors:

• René Díaz-Pichardo
• Cecilia Cantú-González
• Patricia López-Hernández

Keywords:

• entrepreneurial training
• farmers
• land development.

References:

[1] G. McElwee, "Farmers as entrepreneurs: developing competitive skills,"
Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, vol. 11(3), pp. 187-206,
2006.
[2] G. D. Bruton, D. Ahlstrom, and K. Obloj, "Entrepreneurship in emerging
economies: where are we today and where should the research go in the
future," Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, vol. 32(1), pp. 1-14,
January 2008.
[3] J. Pyysiäinen, A. Anderson, G. McElwee, and K. Vesala, "Developing
the entrepreneurial skills of farmers; some myths explored,"
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior Research, 12(1), pp.
21-39, 2006.
[4] K. M. Vesala, J. Peura, and G. McElwee, "The split entrepreneurial
identity of the farmer," Journal of Small Business and Enterprise
Development, vol. 14 (1), pp 48-63, 2007.
[5] L. F. M. Nieuwenhuis, "Innovation and learning in agriculture," Journal
of European Industrial Training, vol. 26(6), pp. 283-291, 2002.
[6] C. C., Lauwere, "The role of agricultural entrepreneurship in Dutch
agriculture of today," Agricultural Economics, vol. 33(2), pp. 229-238,
August, 2004.
[7] J. F. Cortés, El agro mexicano, ┬┐Siempre lo mismo? Guadalajara,
Mexico: Universidad ITESO, 1993.
[8] Secretaría de la Reforma Agraria, Actualidad de las políticas agrarias.
Mexico: Colecci├│n Editorial del Gobierno del Cambio. Fondo de Cultura
Econ├│mica, 2006.
[9] INEGI, retrieved on September 30th, 2008, from
http://www.inegi.gob.mx
[10] FAOSTAT, retrieved on September 30th, 2008, from
http://faostat.fao.org
[11] A. Espinosa, Formación de capital humano y energía social en el campo
mexicano. Mexico: Fundación Miguel Alemán, A.C., 2007.
[12] CONAGUA, Programa Nacional Hídrico 2007 - 20012. Mexico:
Comisi├│n Nacional del Agua, 2008.
[13] PECED. Diagn├│stico sobre el nivel de organizaci├│n de Sociedades de
Responsabilidad Limitada visitadas para el proyecto: "Desarrollo
Estratégico del Capital Humano y Social que Opera las Unidades de
Riego". Pensamiento Creativo Empresarialidad y Desarrollo, S.C.,
unpublished, 2007.
[14] P. M. Kreiser, L. D. Marino, and K. M. Weaver, "Assessing the
psychometric properties of the entrepreneurial orientation scale: a multicountry
analysis," Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, vol. 26(4),
pp. 71-94, Summer 2002.
[15] J. Barney, "Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage,"
Journal of Management, vol. 17(1), pp. 99-120, 1991.
[16] W. E. Baker, and J. M. Sinkula, "The complementary effects of market
orientation and entrepreneurial orientation on profitability in small
businesses," Journal of Small Business Management, vol. 47(4), pp.
443-464, 2009.
[17] S. F. Slater, and J. C. Narver, "Market orientation and the learning
organization," Journal of Marketing, vol. 59(3), pp. 63-74, 1995.
[18] B. Lonergan, Método en Teolog├¡a de Bernard Lonergan. Salamanca,
España: Ediciones Sígueme, 3rd Ed. 2001.