Agropreneurship Development in the Post COVID-19 Era; Challenges and Panacea: Views of Selected Small-Scale Poultry Farmers in Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study x-rayed the challenges of Agropreneurship development since the outbreak of Coronavirus with views of selected small-scale poultry farmers in Idemili North Local government Area of Anambra State Nigeria. The potency of small-scale businesses in driving the socio-economic growth and development of nations particularly developing nations with emerging economy is incontrovertible. The owners of small-scale businesses are also known as entrepreneurs who are usually faced with challenges (lack of start-up and running capital, insecurity, natural disaster, paucity of business skills, etc.) which affect the business growth or total closure of the business. These challenges have been compounded by the outbreak of Coronavirus globally at the end 2019. The study employed descriptive survey design and thematic method of analysis was adopted to analyze generated data. The study found out some challenges facing the small-scale poultry farmers to include hick in prices of chick, feed and drugs, drastic drop of sales and unhealthy competition in the market from large scale farmers and lack of government support. In line with these identified hurdles, following recommendations were made; concerted efforts by government to avail financial support in terms of easy access to soft loans by small-scale farmers, organization of capacity building exercises to enhance acquisition of entrepreneurial skills by small-scale business owners and regulation of market prices to protect infant businesses.