Characteristics and entrepreneurship behavior of strawberry farmers in Serang Village, Karangreja District, Purbalingga

¹ Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Jenderal Sudirman University, Indonesia
² Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Jenderal Sudirman University, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: irene.wijayanti@unsoed.ac.id

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is an important mechanism that facilitates the transfer of knowledge and skills that ultimately results in economic growth. Entrepreneurship is needed by strawberry farmers in Serang Village to face future challenges. This research aims to; 1) identify the internal and external entrepreneurial characteristics of strawberry farmers, and 2) analyze the influence of entrepreneurial characteristics on the entrepreneurial behavior of strawberry farmers. Respondents were determined using the census method, namely all 40 farmers who did strawberry farming. Data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Partial Least Squares. The results of the study show several characteristics which are internal and external entrepreneurship. The characteristics of internal entrepreneurship are reflected by indicators of farming experience as well as age, education, and extroversion. Meanwhile, external entrepreneurial characteristics are reflected by the economic, social, physical, and institutional environments. In addition, the results also show that the characteristics of internal and external entrepreneurial characteristics of strawberry farmers have a positive and significant influence on entrepreneurial behavior. The results of this study indicate that level of institutional awareness needs to be increased in collaboration of strawberry farmers, even though strawberry farmers are independent, but to increase maximum yields certain parties are needed to help them.