Growth Analysis and the Determinants of Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Small-Scale Poultry Subsector in Delta State, Nigeria

Entrepreneurial orientation is vital to growth and development, but lacking in many small-scale enterprises. This study investigated growth and entrepreneurial orientation in the small-scale poultry subsector of Delta State, Nigeria. It also ascertained the drivers of poultry entrepreneurial orientation in the study area. A multistage sampling procedure was used to collect primary data from 180 poultry farmers, through a questionnaire. A four-point Likert scale of five items was used to measure entrepreneurial orientation from innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including gross margins, an autoregressive lag model, and logistic regression. The majority (57.7%) of the farmers are female. The small-scale poultry entrepreneurs had an orientation that was above average. The autoregressive lag model result indicated an increase in stock size and gross margins of poultry enterprises. It was forecast that the growth trend would increase up to 2022. Furthermore, the ANOVA result was statistically significant at 0.002*** and 0.001*** for stock size and gross margins, respectively. Years of experience and training in poultry farming and noninvolvement of entrepreneurs in other occupations influence their entrepreneurial orientation. Poultry entrepreneurs must be trained while they adopt poultry farming as their principal occupation.