RP-Department of Agricultural Economics

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Browsing RP-Department of Agricultural Economics by Subject "Agri-food"

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    Entrepreneurial Orientation, Learning Orientation, Cost Focus and Innovation in Agri-Food SME of Uganda
    (AFJRD, 2022) Ajer, B.; Ngare, L.; Macharia, I.
    Agri-food Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a key role in the economies of most developing countries. With increasing challenges and competitiveness, innovation has been shown to play a critical role in sustaining growth of the numerous agri-food SMEs in developing countries. This innovation is influenced by several factors including entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of the firm. This study introduces learning orientation and cost focus into the EO-Innovation paradigm with the aim of understanding the relationship among EO, learning orientation, cost focus and innovation. The study was conducted in the districts of Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso and Jinja in Uganda. These districts collectively have the highest concentration of agri-food firms in the country. Primary cross-sectional data were collected using semi structured questionnaires from a cross-section of 521 SMEs spread across the study area. Data were analyzed using multivariate structural equation modeling in AMOS v.23. Results suggest the importance of proactiveness in enhancing learning orientation, cost focus and innovation. On the other hand, entrepreneurial proclivity was seen to have significant influence on learning orientation and cost focus but not on innovation. The findings of this study have implications in agri-food SME learning orientation and cost focus. In essence, helping SMEs to become proactive or have high levels of proclivity would also increase their cost focus and learning orientation which are all important for the sustainability of agri-food SMEs.
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    The Influence of Market Orientation on Innovation Attitude and Firm Innovativeness, a Case of Agri-Food Msmes in Uganda
    (Emerald, 2023) Ajer, Basil; Ngare, Lucy; Macharia, Ibrahim
    Purpose – This study assessed the relationship among market orientation, innovation attitude and firm’s innovativeness in the context of agri-food micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in a developing country context. Design/methodology/approach – Cross-sectional primary data was collected using structured questionnaires from a sample of 521 agro-food MSMEs in Uganda. Data was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Findings – Results showed that interfunctional coordination influences both firm innovativeness and innovation attitude. On the other hand, competitor orientation does not influence innovation attitude, but negatively influences firm innovativeness, while customer orientation does not influence firm innovativeness, but positively influences innovation attitude. Results also confirm the positive influence of innovation attitude on firm innovativeness. These relationships vary by location, size of MSME, type of MSME. Research limitations/implications – The findings of study this imply that agri-food firms should focus on improving the internal coordination among departments so as to improve both attitude toward innovation and firm’s innovativeness. Originality/value – This study investigates market orientation and innovation in agro-food MSMEs in a development country