Agri-food entrepreneurs’ perceptions of the infrastructure to support their business

A West of Ireland analysis

Abstract

Supporting the growth of rural agri-food entrepre­neurs requires a clear understanding of the specific supports they need to succeed. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the infrastructure supporting agri-food entrepreneurs situated rurally in the West of Ireland, and their perception of this infrastructure. Twenty-nine participants (n = 18 women; n = 11 males) took part in five separate focus group discussions. The discussions were guided by a semi-structured interview framework, and the resulting transcripts underwent thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: (1) Financial Supports: (a) government funding and (b) insufficient and inaccessible funds; (2) Supportive Resources: (a) networking, mentoring, and training, and (b) isolating work environment; and (3) Social Supports: (a) online support groups and (b) percep­tions from peers. The findings provide an under­standing of the factors influencing entrepreneurial activity and will assist policymakers in the develop­ment and adaptation of the necessary supports.