International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Shardinjay Singh, RK Doharey, Sneha Singh, Suchismita Sahoo, Kumar Sonu and Ankur Gond

abstract
India’s agricultural sector, while employing nearly 50-60% of the population, contributes only about 18.5% to the national GDP, highlighting the need for modernization and value addition. Agripreneurship has emerged as a promising pathway to bridge this gap by fostering innovation, self-employment, and rural development. This study aimed to assess the entrepreneurial behaviour of rural youth in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh. A multistage random sampling technique was employed to select 160 respondents from 16 villages across four blocks. Entrepreneurial behaviour was analysed through three major dimensions innovativeness, achievement motivation, and risk orientation. The findings revealed that a majority of respondents displayed medium levels of innovativeness (56.87%), achievement motivation (68.75%), and risk orientation (61.25%). Overall, 60% of the respondents exhibited medium entrepreneurial behaviour, while only 21.25% demonstrated high levels. These results indicate a moderate level of entrepreneurial potential among rural youth, with significant scope for improvement. The study recommends targeted interventions such as capacity building, entrepreneurship training, mentoring, and access to resources to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem in rural areas. Empowering youth in agriculture through such measures can lead to sustainable rural livelihoods and inclusive economic growth.