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Research Article

Understanding Entrepreneurial Behaviour of Rural Youth in Agriculture and Allied Sectors

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Shardinjay Singh — Research Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
Kumar Sonu — Research Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
R K Doharey — Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
Sneha Singh — Assistant Professor, Rastiy Kishan (PG) College, Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, India
Suchismita Sahoo — M.Sc. Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
Published 18 Mar 2026 Vol. 62 No. 2 (2026), pp. 10-14 ● Open access
❝ How to cite 🔗 https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2026.62202
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Abstract

The study examined the entrepreneurial behaviour of 160 rural youth during 2024-25, through a cross-sectional survey design. Using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple regression analysis, assessed the influence of socioeconomic, informational, and behavioural factors on entrepreneurial tendencies. Entrepreneurial behaviour was conceptualized as a composite of innovativeness (mean = 26.87), achievement motivation (mean = 20.53), and risk orientation (mean = 21.49). The regression model explained 36.14% of the variance in entrepreneurial behavior. Age emerged as a significant negative predictor (β = –0.32, p = 0.001), indicating that younger youth were more entrepreneurial. Annual income was the strongest positive predictor (β = 1.7 × 10–5 , p < 0.001), highlighting the critical role of economic capacity. Knowledge level showed a marginally positive association (p = 0.055), while education and mass media exposure were non-significant. Notably, 73.12% of respondents exhibited medium-level entrepreneurship, suggesting substantial untapped potential. The findings underscore that rural youth entrepreneurship is fundamentally conditioned by economic resources and age-cohort effects, with implications for extension programmes and policy targeting resource constraints rather than motivation alone. Tailored interventions addressing capital access, practical skill development, and risk-reduction mechanisms are essential for converting latent entrepreneurial potential into active enterprise creation among rural youth.
KeywordsRural youth, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Multiple regression, Ghazipur.

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