Innovative Skills and Growth of Micro and Small Farm Inputs Enterprises in Kenya
Keywords:
Innovative Skills, Growth, Micro and Small Farm Inputs EnterprisesAbstract
Micro and small enterprises are important drivers of most economies across the world. Kenya Vision 2030 envisages the importance of farm inputs MSEs due to the crucial role they play in agricultural food value-chain by supplying farmers with farm inputs for food production and economic growth. Several policies and programs have been put in place to promote the growth of farm inputs MSEs in Kenya. However, despite this effort, most of these enterprises continue to struggle with growth problems. This study sought to determine the influence of innovative skills on the growth of farm inputs MSEs in Kenya. The study was supported by Schumpeter's Theory of Innovation. The study adopted a positivist research philosophy and descriptive survey design. The target population was 4,931 micro and small farm-inputs enterprises registered by the Agricultural Market Trust of Kenya. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The findings indicated that innovative skills had a positive and significant influence on the growth of farm inputs MSEs in Kenya (b=1.088, p=0.000). The study concluded that innovative skills significantly and positively contribute to the increase in the growth of farm inputs MSEs in Kenya. The study recommended the need for farm inputs for MSE owners to strengthen innovative skills through training for improved growth of enterprises. In particular, the farm inputs MSE owners should focus on enhancing the following aspects of innovative skills: introduction of new products and services, new markets for the existing products, new markets for new products, and new channels of product distribution.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Lawrence Munene Muthike, Prof. Florence Memba, PhD, Dr. Peter Ngatia, PhD
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