Entrepreneurial Behaviour Analysis of Mushroom Growers in Haryana

Description

Rupesh¹, Jasvinder Kaur², Pardeep Chahal³, and Komal Sharma⁴ (Department of Agricultural Extension, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana^1,2,3 and Extension Education Institute, Nilokheri, Karnal, Haryana⁴)

Mushroom cultivation offers a substantial opportunity for rural livelihood by improving income generation and strengthening it by providing a non-conventional agricultural enterprise. To enable this sector to succeed, the entrepreneurial behaviour or orientation of mushroom growers plays a vital part, which is determined by various socio-economic factors. However, despite its importance, it has received limited study by mushroom producers. This study was conducted on 60 mushroom cultivars to assess the entrepreneurial attributes and production constraints. The focus was given on different entrepreneurial attributes such as scientific orientation, achievement motivation, risk-taking ability, digital adoption, decision-making skills and latest information-seeking bahaviour. The research finds that 56.67% of the mushroom growers express medium level of scientific orientation. Majority of the mushroom growers (60%) exhibit medium risk preference, while 65% of the growers illustrated medium level of decision-making ability. For the latest information seeking behaviour, 75% of growers show medium level, while 50% were moderately motivated to achieve their mushroom cultivation goals. The study also finds that there was very little adoption digital platforms for marketing and new technology adoption and capacity building. The growers need significant support in digital adoption, skill enhancement, and institutional support, strengthening policy support, ensuring reliable spawn supply, stabilizing price in the market, and promoting digital inclusion are important for advancing mushroom cultivation into an economically viable and sustainable agribusiness.