Entrepreneurs' Perceived Factors of Success and Barriers-To-Entry for Small Business and Farm Operations in Rural Paraguay

Both agriculture and nonagriculture activities are important for Paraguay's economy and its rural development plan. Ensuring opportunity for successful enterprise creation and expansion will facilitate new business entrance, while also growing rural economies. Past research has identified many factors that contribute highly to business and farm operation success, though little information exists about the perceptions of would-be entrepreneurs.;This study analyzes perceptions and characteristics of young, would-be entrepreneurs and agriculture producers in rural Paraguay to better understand their views of business/farm success and hurdle factors. Results suggest that increased experience, education and business exposure will decrease perceptions of many barrier factors. Access to capital and land were also more likely to be seen as larger hurdles to business and farm entry by employees and students in the private business and agriculture sectors. Development programs/initiatives that can provide entrepreneurial training, enterprise management experience, and access to capital and land might incentivize more would-be entrepreneurs into small-business/farm operations, while also improving their perceptions of entry.