CHARACTERISTICS AND PERFORMANCE OF MICRO-ENTERPRISES IN THE BUFFALO PRODUCTION SECTOR: A SURVEY IN COASTAL REGIONS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

There is limited scientific information on the nature and characteristics of micro-entrepreneurship within the buffalo farming and production sector. To address this gap, the present survey aimed to enhance understanding of how buffalo micro-entrepreneurs perceive risks related to various aspects of water buffalo production, as well as their adaptive strategies in response to existing challenges. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted between August and October 2022, gathering data from 190 micro-entrepreneurs (MEs) perceive involved in buffalo rearing, production, and product marketing. Findings on the profiles of micro-entrepreneurs and their enterprises indicated that 64% of respondents were male and 34% were female. About 50.49% of MEs had completed primary school, approximately 46.53% of MEs received training on livestock’s health and vaccination, and 28.71% received technical training on entrepreneurship and business management. Results highlight average 16.50% of MEs expressed knowledge of business management and marketing. Regarding business management, it was found that about 65.0% of MEs sold milk as a top product of selling. Only 7.84% of MEs were registered with any Government’s concern, and 65.35% of MEs were members of a savings cooperative/NGOs. Majority of MEs found existed market conditions somewhat unfavorable for businesses (71.57%) and were dissatisfied with government strategies or policies in providing access to finance and business services and working facilities (71.64%). Whereas 57.35% of respondents showed satisfaction with the government’s actions on ease access/availability of goods in rural areas. Majority of MEs (62.75%) identified current electricity supply as an important constraint for their enterprise’s production. Most of MEs emphasized the stable political environment (71.74%), improvement of infrastructure (68.48%) and entrepreneurship training (46.03%) for ensuring the sustainability of microenterprises. Results indicate insufficient finance, lack of qualified human resources, inadequate market information and lack of marketing skills, insufficient adaptation skills to climate and environmental effects as major challenges for micro-enterprises producing buffaloes. The findings indicate that obtaining appropriate vocational, technical, business, management, and entrepreneurial skills is essential for the sustainable growth and development of micro-entrepreneurs and their enterprises. This field-based analysis enhances the understanding of MEs in the selected study areas and highlights the significant role that microenterprises play in the economic advancement of buffalo-based coastal regions.