Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
MSC. Graduated, Agricultural Extension and Education, Department Of Agricultural Extension and Education, University Of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
2
Professor Department Of Agricultural Extension and Education, University Of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
3
Assistant Professor Department Of Agricultural Extension and Education, University Of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
Abstract
Since agriculture is considered as one of the key sectors of country’s economy, lack of entrepreneurial studies in agriculture and specifically in the area of identifying entrepreneurial opportunities regarded as the most fundamental and primary step in entrepreneurship process intensifies the importance of addressing the subject. Thus, this research was aimed to provide structural model for identifying entrepreneurial opportunities among Herbal plant producers in North Khorasan province. The statistical population of this study was all the herbal plant producers in North Khorasan province in 1398 comprising of 1350 active units, of which due to total knowledge of population, 209 were selected in levels as the statistical samples by the proportional allocation method. Lack of producers’ information list resulted in carrying out the samples selection with the help of available method. The main instrument for data collection was a questionnaire made by the researcher validity of which was evaluated by experts’ panel, and its reliability using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and composite reliability index was analyzed and confirmed due to the fact that the rate was higher than 0.7 for all the constructs. Data were analyzed using partial least squares method and Smart pls software. Findings showed that social network and social capital besides having a direct, positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial self-efficacy, through this construct and indirectly have a positive and significant effect on identifying entrepreneurial opportunities. Also, social network, social capital, self-image, and prior knowledge having direct, positive, and significant impact on identifying entrepreneurial opportunities resulted in a direct, positive and significant impact on identifying entrepreneurial opportunities. In addition, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial consciousness have a direct, positive and significant effect on identifying entrepreneurial opportunities.
Keywords
)