Entrepreneurial Practices and Profitability of Smallholder Farmers in Nueva Ecija: A Business Perspective

Abstract

Smallholder farmers in Nueva Ecija play a vital role in Philippine agriculture, yet their profitability remains constrained by structural and operational challenges. This study investigates the entrepreneurial practices of smallholder farmers, including product diversification, customer engagement, cost control, and record-keeping, and their relationship to self-reported profitability. Using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s r correlation, the study surveyed 59 purposively selected farmers. Results showed that product diversification and customer engagement had strong positive correlations with profitability, while cost control and record-keeping showed moderate but significant relationships. Demographic factors, such as age, gender, education, and years of farming experience, had a minimal influence on financial outcomes. Key challenges identified included limited capital access, inadequate market linkage, and insufficient agripreneurship training. Institutional support was present but uneven, with technical aid more available than digital and financial services. A localized action plan is proposed to address capacity-building, financial inclusion, digital literacy, and cooperative branding. This aligns with Entrepreneurial Orientation Theory and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, emphasizing that entrepreneurial behaviors supported by institutional mechanisms can enhance the resilience and profitability of smallholder farmers. The study recommends multi-stakeholder collaboration and scalable interventions to sustain inclusive agribusiness development in rural areas.