Title: INFLUENCE OF SRP ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP BEHAVIOUR OF AGRICULTURE GRADUATES

Authors: Vaishnavi P., D. A. Nithya Shree and S. Udhayan

Publisher: The President, Society of Extension Education Gujarat

Keywords: agriculture graduates, experiential learning, entrepreneurship behaviour, student ready programme

Volume: 41

Issue: 2

Year: June 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56572/gjoee.2026.41.2.0006

Abstract: The Student Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana (READY) programme was initiated by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to equip final-year agriculture students with practical and entrepreneurial skills. Since 2016-17, it has been implemented across various State Agricultural Universities (SAUs). This study was conducted to measure the entrepreneurial behaviour of agriculture graduates across seven dimensions: innovativeness, risk-taking ability, achievement motivation, decision-making ability, leadership ability, management orientation, and goal-setting ability. An ex-post-facto research design was employed, and data were collected from 350 graduates across seven State Agricultural Universities in South India. A standardized scale developed by Sanketh et al. (2020) was used, and responses were rated on a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using mean scores, index values, ranking, and ANOVA. The overall entrepreneurship behaviour index among graduates was found to be 73.42, indicating a moderate to high level of entrepreneurial behaviour. Leadership ability ranked highest among the dimensions (79.38), followed by goal-setting (75.06) and Innovativeness (73.41). High scores in these areas indicate better entrepreneurial orientation among graduates exposed to SRP. The findings indicate the potential role of SRP in enhancing the confidence, initiative, and risk-taking tendencies of graduates. However, lower indices in areas such as decision-making dependence and limited awareness of incubation facilities point to gaps in entrepreneurial readiness. Institutional differences were also observed, with PJTSAU ranking highest (75.84) due to strong industry linkages and networking opportunities. The findings underscore the impact of experiential learning and field exposure provided through SRP in enhancing entrepreneurial traits. To further strengthen these outcomes, universities should focus on expanding access to incubation centres, providing mentorship, and fostering real-world industry engagement.