Effect of Climate Change Dimensions on Agricultural Entrepreneurial Opportunities Recognition

Climate change is one of the most important challenges of the current century, affecting agriculture more than other ones, an entrepreneur farmer perceives environmental challenges and changes as an opportunity. In this regard, this study aims to analyze the effects of climate change dimensions on Entrepreneurial Opportunities Recognition (EOR) in the agricultural sector of Kermanshah Province, Iran. The statistical population of the study included all entrepreneurs of the agricultural sector in Kermanshah Province, with 102 of them being selected through a simple randomization method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used as the main tool of data collection whose validity and reliability were confirmed by a panel of experts and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and Kuder and Richardson formulas. The findings indicated that respondents had correctly and successfully identified existing entrepreneurial opportunities in the agricultural sector since they examined the proportion and desirability of these opportunities at a high level of possibility. Results also showed that more than half of the respondents perceived climate changes at a high level and took them into account for initiating their business. According to the results of regression analysis, climate changes dimensions (drought, dust, and temperature rise) account for 41% of variance changes in EOR in the agricultural sector of Kermanshah Province. Our findings have implications to help policymakers, planners, and managers in improving entrepreneurial opportunities and recognizing farmers’ capability.