Future Agropreneur Employability Readiness in Evolving Market: A Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract

In the evolution of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), ensuring agropreneur readiness becomes crucial for navigating the dynamic agricultural market. It utilized the Constructivist Grounded Theory, in-depth semi-structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with a diverse sample of agricultural experts, industry leaders, and agropreneurs. This study aims to identify and understand the essential skills needed by agropreneurs to thrive in the 4IR era and excel in a disruptive, rapidly changing market influenced by artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and automation. The findings underscore the importance of a growth mindset, endurance, perseverance, problem-solving, agility, technical knowledge, and creativity in adapting to and capitalizing on emerging technologies. This research contributes to the literature by providing nuanced insights into the valued competencies crucial for agropreneur readiness in the context of 4IR, offering a comprehensive understanding of agropreneur readiness in this evolving agricultural landscape.