Analysis of Business Environment Fundamentals and Performance of Secondary School Graduates in Agripreneurship in Southern Zone of Taraba State, Nigeria

This study examined the effect of business environment fundamentals on the performance of secondary school graduates in Agripreneurship in Southern Zone of Taraba State, Nigeria. The study specifically examined the effect of unfriendly business climate, lack of credit facilities, multiple taxation and poor state of infrastructure on the performance of youths in agripreneurial activities. A survey design was used for this study and data was collected with the use of structured questionnaire. The population of the study was 650 owner-managers of agripreneurial activities in Southern Taraba. A sample size of 300 respondents was determined using proportionate stratified random sampling technique. Cronbach Alpha and factor analysis were employed to test the reliability and validity of the instruments respectively. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistical tools such as mean and standard deviation while the null hypothesis was tested using multiple regression. Findings of the study indicated that unfriendly business climate significantly affects agripreneurial activities. The study found that lack of credit facilities has a significant relationship with agripreneurial activities. It was found that multiple taxation affects the performance of youths in agripreneurial activities. Finally, the study found that poor state of infrastructure has negative effect on the performance of youths in agripreneurial activities. The study concluded that business environment fundamentals make agripreneurial activities to lack an enabling environment to thrive hence affecting youths’ performance in agripreneurial activities in Southern Taraba State. It recommended amongst others that government should create an enabling environment for agripreneurial activities to strive in the zone by addressing security issues and improve on the provision of basic infrastructures such as electricity, good roads and water to help the youths perform well in agripreneurial activities.