Entrepreneurial Dimensions of Rural Women in Backyard Poultry: Insights from ICAR Farmer FIRST Villages of Rahuri, Maharashtra

Abstract

The present study was undertaken under the ICAR Farmer FIRST Project implemented by Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, in four villages of Rahuri tahsil, Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra, with the objective of assessing the entrepreneurial behavior of rural women engaged in backyard poultry farming. The project area, classified as a dry zone with annual rainfall below 500 mm, adopted the Integrated Farming System model for sustainable development. Using an ex-post-facto research design, a sample of 200 rural women (50 from each village) was purposively selected. Data were collected through structured interviews, face-to-face communication, and observation, and analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Findings revealed that the majority of respondents exhibited medium levels of innovativeness (71.50%), decision-making ability (53.50%), achievement motivation (61.50%), aspiration (68.50%), risk-bearing ability (74.50%), and scientific orientation (53.00%). These results indicate that rural women entrepreneurs possess moderate entrepreneurial capacity, with potential for further enhancement through focused interventions. The predominance of medium-level traits reflects socio-economic and infrastructural constraints but also highlights opportunities for capacity-building programs aimed at strengthening innovation, scientific orientation, and decision-making. The study underscores the importance of empowering rural women in backyard poultry for sustainable livelihood development.