Exploring Entrepreneur Intention in the Mushroom Industry with Government Support in Malaysia

The mushroom industry in Malaysia is experiencing significant growth due to its high return value and low production costs. The Malaysian government has implemented initiatives to encourage entrepreneurial activities. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives in influencing entrepreneurial intention remains to be determined. This study investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial intention in the Malaysian mushroom industry and the moderating effect of government support, drawing insights from the interplay between entrepreneurial self-efficacy, intention, and external support mechanisms. Numerous factors influence entrepreneurship intentions in the mushroom industry. Entrepreneurial self-efficacy plays a crucial role in shaping entrepreneurial intentions and behaviors, and individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to perceive themselves as capable of successfully starting and running a new business. Government support can provide funding, tax advantages, subsidies, skills development, and advice services and create enabling environments for entrepreneurial efforts. The literature on government support and its impact on entrepreneurship intention reveals gaps that need further exploration. The theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how entrepreneurship education influences self-efficacy, attitudes, and intentions. This study examines the capacity of government assistance to impact entrepreneurial intention in the Malaysian mushroom business, providing vital knowledge on how to promote a more robust environment for sustainable mushroom production. Additionally, this research aims to bridge the gap by investigating how government support moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intention in the Malaysian mushroom industry, offering valuable conceptual insights to policymakers for fostering a sustainable mushroom production sector.