Critical Factors Influencing the Entrepreneurial Undergraduate’S Decision Venturing into Agribusiness in Ebonyi State, (A Case Study of Ebonyi State Universty)

Abstract

The study analyzed the critical factors influencing the entrepreneurial undergraduates decision to venturing into  agribusiness  in the Ebonyi State using Ebonyi State University as a case study. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed for the selection of the 120 respondents that were used as the sample size. A well structured questionnaire were administered to the sampled of undergraduate of selected departments in the faculty of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources, Ebonyi state University, Abakaliki. The research showed that majority (57%) of the respondents were males while females accounted for the rest of 43%. The study further revealed that majority of the 52.5 percent of the respondent were within the age of 21 – 30. The study also revealed that such constraints as; lack of entrepreneurial zeal, non-availability of start-up capital, poor Infrastructural facilities ,lack of experience in self employment, as well as changing government policies are among the strongest negative determinants of career choice and entrepreneurship in agribusiness among undergraduates. Based on findings, some recommendations were made, such as the government should seek to motivate genuinely interested undergraduates in agribusiness, put up appropriate infrastructure as well as seek to eliminate corruption in its administration of agribusiness policies. University authorities are also encouraged to guide the students into developing bankable business plans in their areas of interest in agribusiness. Such students should be recommended for sponsorship by government, as well as other interested individual/corporate bodies in agribusiness.

Keywords: Critical, Factors, Influencing, Entrepreneurial, Undergraduates, Decision, Venture, Agribusiness.