Determinants of Agriculture as a Career Path among College Students in Mezam Division of Northwest Cameroon | Chapter 8 | Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 3

 

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), agriculture continues to play a fundamental role in the economic portfolio of rural households. However, rapid urban growth—particularly in Africa—is increasingly fueled by two key factors: internal migration from rural to urban areas, and immigration from other countries and regions. Generally, youths in rural Africa have little aspiration for careers in the agricultural sector and instead migrate to urban areas to seek employment and better living conditions. In Cameroon, the majority of migrants are youths aged 18 to 35, who often face significant challenges related to unemployment and underemployment upon arriving in urban areas. The government is turning to agriculture as a source of employment for youth; however, there is scant literature on the determinants of the attraction of youths, especially college students, to the sector. This exploratory study sought to identify these determinants and to investigate strategies for making agriculture appealing to students for future career development. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2023 across selected secondary and high schools. In both secondary and high schools, a semi-structured questionnaire comprising twelve open-ended and three closed-ended questions was first piloted. Based on the pilot, an average of eight students per institution were selected for individual interviews, and eight others participated in focus group discussions. Secondary and high school teachers, selected using the convenience sampling approach, were engaged in focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software. The overarching factors attracting college students to agriculture in the study area include the availability of arable land and easy access to it, access to start-up financing, the introduction of adapted mechanization and relevant information and communication technologies, increased productivity leading to higher returns on investment in agriculture, education and training, and positive messaging about agriculture targeting youth. The study recommends profound land tenure reforms, the provision of adapted financial services, the establishment of farm mechanization pools, the inclusion of agriculture in college curricula, and positive communication strategies to rebrand agriculture. Further research should be carried out in other regions of the country to confirm the findings of this study or to identify other contributory factors of youth attraction to agriculture, which may be specific to the different agro-ecological zones of the country.

Author(s) Details

Aseh Emmanuel Vitung
Department of Business Studies, Graduate School, ICT University, Yaounde, Cameroon.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/asti/v3/5827

 

Impact of Leadership Styles and Their Influences on the Growth of Fintech Start-ups in Zambia | Chapter 7 | New Advances in Business, Management and Economics Vol. 7

Fintech is the adoption of new technology that seeks to improve and automate the delivery and provision of financial services in business. Fintech firms that are emerging in economies have also disrupted the financial market space through their innovativeness and technological approaches to conducting business. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in financial technology (Fintech) research. This study set out to examine the relationship between leadership styles and the firm growth of Fintech start-ups in Zambia. A quantitative design employing a cross-sectional survey with the use of a Likert questionnaire was conducted on the leaders of top-performing Fintech firms in Zambia, as recognised by Tracxn in its May 2020 report. The dependent variable for the study was firm growth.  The study includes three leadership styles as independent variables (transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles). Leadership styles were measured using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. The most important finding is that, in Zambia, Fintech start-up growth is closely linked to transformational leadership, whereas transactional leadership has a minor impact. Laissez-faire leadership and firm growth have a weak but positive correlation. Two primary contributions to the Fintech literature are made by the study. First, the results can assist scholars in elucidating leadership styles that forecast Fintech start-up growth. Second, the creators of Fintech companies will be aware of the key leadership philosophies that can propel start-ups forward. The study has helped to show that firms that have embraced transformational leadership styles and varied their use of transactional and laissez-faire leadership approaches are more likely to experience Fintech firm growth. The limitations of this study relate to the sample size, the need to consider other readership styles, and the use of qualitative and longitudinal designs that would provide more insights and validation.

 

Author (s) Details

 

Progress Choongo
Department of Operations and Supply Chain Management, School of Business, The Copperbelt University, Jambo Driver, Kitwe, P.O. Box 21692, Zambia.

 

Mungu Chileshe
School of Business Graduate Studies, The Copperbelt University, Jambo Driver, Kitwe, P.O. Box 21692, Zambia.

Christine Nakamba Lesa
Department of Operations and Supply Chain Management, School of Business, The Copperbelt University, Jambo Driver, Kitwe, P.O. Box 21692, Zambia.

 

Bruce Mwiya
Department of Business Administration, School of Business, The Copperbelt University, Jambo Driver, Kitwe, P.O. Box 21692, Zambia.

 

Thomas Kweku Taylor
School of Business Graduate Studies, The Copperbelt University, Jambo Driver, Kitwe, P.O. Box 21692, Zambia.

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nabme/v7/5309

Role of Incubation Centres as Catalysts for Inclusive Entrepreneurship | Chapter 12 | Economics and Entrepreneurship: The Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Business and Management Dynamics (ICBMD), Edition 1

Inclusion, programme, marginalized, start-up, incubationThis study explored the role of incubation centres as catalysts for inclusive entrepreneurship, particularly in supporting socially excluded individuals in starting profitable businesses. By examining start-ups that underwent the incubation process, the study aimed to highlight the underutilised potential of these centres in fostering entrepreneurship among under-represented populations. Using a qualitative approach, the researcher interviewed 21 start-up founders who had received business incubation training. The findings suggest that incubation hubs can promote social inclusion by providing equal training opportunities for all entrepreneurs, regardless of their backgrounds. The centres also help under-represented groups by offering access to markets, trade shows, networks and related platforms. Furthermore, the study found that incubation programmes could be tailored to accommodate the diverse experiences, educational backgrounds and interests of participants. It emphasised that marginalised groups often require distinct motivational strategies to build their confidence and enhance their capacity for growth. Inclusive entrepreneurship has the potential to create new local possibilities by enabling underprivileged individuals to start firms in remote regions. The study concluded that incubation centres have the potential to be game-changers by offering targeted entrepreneurial development, customised support and access to funding, ultimately empowering individuals with various constraints to become successful entrepreneurs. Incubation facilities need to think hard about how they can guarantee inclusivity and diversity.

 

Author (s) Details

 Joe Kumbirai Karambakuwa
Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Durban University of Technology, South Africa.

 

Mary-Ann Nokulunga Nhleko
Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Durban University of Technology, South Africa.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-49238-53-4/CH12