Entrepreneurial Innovation and Performance of Small-Scale Agribusiness Grain Farmers in North Rift, Kenya

Authors

  • Michael Kibet Kebenei The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
  • Dr. Fr. Paul Mathenge The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
  • Dr. Elias Mwangi The Catholic University of Eastern Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47604/ijepm.3491

Keywords:

Agribusiness, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Production

Abstract

Purpose: In North Rift Kenya, small-scale farmers are struggling to make ends meet despite contributing the largest percentage of maize production in the country. Therefore, this study the study sought to determine the influence of entrepreneurial innovation on performance of small-scale agribusiness grain farmers in North Rift, Kenya.

Methodology: The study adopted the positivist research philosophy and descriptive survey research design was utilized. Target population included 497,737 small-scale agribusiness grain farmers in North Rift, Kenya. Yamane’s Formula of sample size determination was applied to derive a sample size of 400 respondents. Questionnaire was used for data collection. SPSS version 25 was applied in analyzing the data collected. The quantitative data comprised of the descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics were summarized into percentages, mean and the standard deviation which was presented using figures, frequency tables and pie-charts. Inferential statistics were applied to test the hypothesis for the study.

Findings: The findings showed that Innovation and performance of small-scale agribusiness grain farmers has a positive and significant relationship. The relationship between Entrepreneurial Innovation and the performance of small-scale agribusiness grain farmers in North Rift, Kenya was significant (F=539.106, p-value=0.000<0.05), with R2 =0.576.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended individual farmers to embrace and use new techniques and technologies on their farms so as boost production while cutting costs.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdilahi, M.H., Hassan, A.A. & Muhumed, M.M. (2017). The impact of innovation on small and medium enterprises: Empirical evidence from Hargeisa, Somaliland. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(8), 14-28.

Al Maalouf, N. J., El Achi, S., & Balouza, M. (2025). Transformational leadership, innovation, and performance of SMEs in Europe. Cogent Business & Management, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2473683

Ali, S., Khalid, N., & Bashir, M. (2021). Impact of Innovative Marketing on the Performance of Small-Scale Farmers. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 75(3), 443-459.

Al-Mamary, Y.H. & Alshallaqi, M. (2022). Impact of autonomy, innovativeness, risk-taking, pro-activeness, and competitive aggressiveness on students’ intention to start a new venture. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 7(4), 100239

Arif, S., & Akram, A. (2018). Transformational Leadership and Organizational Performance: The Mediating Role of Organizational Innovation. SEISENSE Journal of Management, 1(3), 59-75. https://doi.org/10.33215/sjom.v1i3.28

Chen, C. (2021). Agribusiness explained: What it is, challenges, and examples. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/agribusiness.asp

Expósito, A., & Sanchis-Llopis, J.A. (2019). The relationship between types of innovation and SMEs’ performance: a multi-dimensional empirical assessment. Eurasian Bus Rev, 9, 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40821-018-00116-3

Fan, M., Qalati, S.A., Khan, M.A.S., Shah, S.M.M., Ramzan, M., & Khan, R.S. (2021). Effects of entrepreneurial orientation on social media adoption and SME performance: The moderating role of innovation capabilities. PLoS ONE 16(4): e0247320. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247320

Hailu, A. A., Kerro, C. A., & Dagne, Z. L. (2025). The effect of strategic orientation on performance of agribusiness firms in Ethiopia: The mediating role of innovation capability. Cogent Business & Management, 12(1), 2511284. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2511284

Kamau, J., & Wandiga, A. (2025). Strategic resources and performance of listed agribusiness firms in Kenya. African Journal of Business and Economic Research, 20(1), 45–62.

Kiiru, D.K., Mukulu, E., & Ngatia, P. (2023). Innovativeness and Performance: Evidence from Kenyan SMEs. European Journal of Business and Management Research, 8(2), 113-119. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejbmr.2023.8.2.1810

Kilelu, C. W., Klerkx, L., & Leeuwis, C. (2020). Supporting smallholder farmers in innovation platforms: Contributions and challenges. Agricultural Systems, 178, 102709.

KNBS. (2022). Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Economic Survey 2022.

Kumar, D., & Kalita, P. (2017). Reducing Postharvest Losses during Storage of Grain Crops to Strengthen Food Security in Developing Countries. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 6(1), 8

Linton, G. (2019). Innovativeness, risk-taking, and pro-activeness in start-ups: a case study and conceptual development. J Glob Entrepr Res 9, 20.

Makini, F., Mose, L., Kamau, G., & Mulinge, W. et al. (2018). Innovation Opportunities in Sweet Potato production in Kenya. FARA, KALRO and ZEF.

Mdoe, C. N., Mfinanga, F. A. & Kanire, E. (2024). Impact of Innovations on the Performance of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs in Tanzania. East African Journal of Management and Business Studies, 4(2), 40-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46606/eajmbs2024v04i02.0051

Muriithi, M. K., Bett, H. K., & Ogola, J. B. (2022). The Role of Product Diversification in Enhancing the Performance of Small-Scale Agribusinesses. International Journal of Agricultural Management, 11(2), 112-125.

Mwangi, M., & Kariuki, S. (2019). Factors Determining Adoption of New Agricultural Technologies by Smallholder Farmers. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 11(4), 123-135.

Nduati, P.M. (2020). Influence of Strategic Innovation on Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Kenya: A Literature Based Review. African Journal of Emerging Issues, 2(6), 55 - 66.

Schumpeter, J. (1949). Economic Theory and Entrepreneurial History. In R. R. Wohl (Ed.), Change and the Entrepreneur: Postulates and the Patterns for Entrepreneurial History (pp. 131-142). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Downloads

Published

2025-09-03

How to Cite

Kebenei, M., Mathenge, P., & Mwangi, E. (2025). Entrepreneurial Innovation and Performance of Small-Scale Agribusiness Grain Farmers in North Rift, Kenya. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Project Management, 10(2), 34–47. https://doi.org/10.47604/ijepm.3491

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.