Perceived Social Norms and Agripreneurial Intention among Youths in Eastern DRC

Akilimali Ndatabaye Ephrem, Paul Martin Dontsop Nguezet, McEdward Murimbika, Zoumana Bamba and Victor Manyong
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Akilimali Ndatabaye Ephrem: Faculty of Economics and Management, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu 570, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Paul Martin Dontsop Nguezet: Social Science and Agribusiness, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kalemie 570, Democratic Republic of the Congo
McEdward Murimbika: Graduate School of Business Administration, University of the Witwatesrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
Zoumana Bamba: Capacity Development Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kinshasha 4163, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Victor Manyong: Social Science and Agribusiness, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Daar Es Salaam 34441, Tanzania

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country with a high agricultural productivity potential; however, the agribusiness sector remains unattractive to youths. This study examined the extent to which perceived social norms and psychological capital affect youths’ intentions to pursue agribusiness opportunities in the Eastern DRC. Data was collected on a sample of 600 youths. We applied Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS?SEM) in order to examine the relationship between the variables. The findings indicated that most of the youths did not select agribusiness as their top career choice. The intention to engage in agribusiness activities was significantly higher among the youths who perceived that agribusiness was socially valued and supported. Psychological capital significantly and positively affects youths’ agripreneurial intention. The findings contribute to the underlying Theory of Planned Behavior by supporting a positive mediation role of psychological capital—and the moderating roles of educational level, gender, access to land, and location—on the relationship between perceived social norms and agripreneurial intention. The paper concludes that the provision of funds is not enough to promote youth agripreneurship in an environment in which agricultural-related social norms, youths’ psychological capital, gender, access to land, educational level, and location (rural versus urban) are not thoroughly considered.

Keywords: social norms; psychological capital; intention; agribusiness; TPB; youth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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