Characteristics, Motivational Factors, and Risk Management Practices of Women Agripreneurs in Calamba City, Laguna

Date

5-2017

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Arlene C. Gutierrez

Committee Member

Jeanette Angeline B. Madamba, Agnes T. Banzon, Dinah Pura T. Depositario,

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the motivational factors and risk characteristics of women agripreneurs in Calamba City, Laguna. Specifically, this study aimed to: (a) describe the socio-demographic characteristics of women agripreneurs in Calamba City, Laguna; (b) identify common motivational factors among women agripreneurs; (c) assess risk-taking behavior of women agripreneurs; (d) compare the socio-demographic characteristics, motivational factors and risk management practices of women agripreneurs from the production, processing and marketing type of business; (e) analyze the problems and gap encountered by women agripreneurs; and (f) recommend courses of action in order to solve the identified problems.

Primary data were obtained through personal interviews with 75 women agripreneurs in Calamba City. Chi-square test of independence was calculated using Statistical Tool for Agricultural Research (STAR) and Minitab software in the integrated analysis of the variables identified in the study namely: socio-demographic characteristics, business profile, entrepreneurial experience, motivational factors and risk management practices. The direction of the relationship of the variables was also determined.

Results of the study showed that majority of women agripreneurs in Calamba City, Laguna were already in their fifties and were married. Moreover, majority of the women agripreneurs were college graduates and considered their business as their major source of income. Based on the categories of income class by Cayton et al. (2009), majority of women agripreneurs were considered as Lower Middle Income Class with monthly income ranging from Php 11, 914.41 to Php 27, 528.57. However, in terms of their business income, most of them were only classified as Low Income Class. When asked regarding the significant fruits of their business, most of the respondents said that it was the business enabled them to send their children to school.

Most of the women agripreneurs had been operating their business for six years. Primarily, 41.33% of the respondents were engaged in sari-sari store business. Since the source of their initial capital for the business came from their personal savings, the women agripreneurs in Calamba City preferred those businesses with the lowest capital requirement. In addition, most of the women agripreneurs chose to set up their business at home. By doing so, they were able to save costs in terms of rent expense and able to fulfill their domestic obligations.

The most important motivational factor considered by women agripreneurs was Greater Business Achievement. This meant that women agripreneurs were concerned mainly with being able to increase their income and achieve more on their own. Since most of the respondents still had dependents and were married, they considered “to increase my income” as the most important reason in starting up their businesses. They also desired higher income in order to support their families’ daily basic needs.

Women agripreneurs in Calamba City, Laguna were considered as “moderate risk takers.” They did not want to invest in a business with high risk. They preferred saving their money for their daily expenses instead of expanding their current businesses. Despite this, the respondents still classified themselves as imitative entrepreneurs for they were always ready to adapt to changes that innovating entrepreneurs make.

Upon analyzing the relationship of various variables with motivational factors and risk characteristics, it was found out that only age was significant to the motivational factor of women agripreneurs in aiming for greater business achievement and job security. Age was indirectly related to their motivational factor. The rest of the tested variables were inisginificant. This implied that as women agripreneurs age, their desire for greater business achievement decreased. This was due to the fact that as they age, their children would eventually become independent and their business would only be their past time.

Insufficient capital was identified as the major problem of women agribusiness entrepreneurs in Calamba City, Laguna. The other problems encountered by women agripreneurs were product pricing, varying demand, high pricing of supplier, untimely or delayed delivery, damaged products, machine failure in the production, accidents in the production, calamities, shop lifters, and non-paying customers.

Given the problems encountered by women agripreneurs, it was recommended that they keep a record of when the product is marketable, regularly check the products from the suppliers before accepting it in order to minimize loss due to damages, prevent off- contract or unplanned purchase of supplies and take advantage of discounts, keep a record of every transaction made in the enterprise and consistently communicate with the customers in order to prevent non-paying customers, attend seminars for women entrepreneurs specifically MSMEs, and join business related cooperative or organization.

It was also recommended for the government to include MSMEs promotion in their development plan. Government should promote entrepreneurship in residential areas or communities since majority of the target audience or women are found in those areas. It was highly recommended for future researchers to include additional number of respondents for it will give more accurate results, include factors motivating women agripreneurs in sustaining their businesses and key success factors of women agripreneurs and test whether the problems in MSMEs has an impact to women agripreneurs’ motivational factors.

Language

English

LC Subject

Entrepreneurship—Decision making

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2017 M17 Y8

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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