From Orchard to Opportunity: Exploring the Entrepreneurial Behaviour of Mango Growers in Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka, India

Mango cultivation is driving the development of a robust value chain across India, leveraging the potential of horticulture for higher unit productivity and significant value addition. The study assessed the entrepreneurial behaviour of mango growers in the Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka. The study was conducted in Srinivasapura taluk of Kolar district and Chintamani taluk of Chikkabalapur district of Karnataka during 2023-2024. Ex-post facto research design was used. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The study sample consisted of 120 mango growers, with six villages selected from each taluk. Approximately 37.50 % of the farmers belonged to the medium entrepreneurial behaviour category, followed by low (35.00 %) and high (27.50 %) categories of entrepreneurial behaviour. It was found that 38.33 % of the farmers belonged to medium level of innovativeness, achievement motivation (39.16 %), leadership ability (40.00 %), information seeking behaviour (40.83 %), scientific orientation (38.33 %), while nearly one third of the mango growers belonged to medium level of risk-taking ability (29.16 %), coordinating ability (35.83 %) and nearly half of the farmers had medium level of innovativeness (48.33 %). Results revealed that there exists an opportunity for enhancing the entrepreneurial behaviour of mango growers by organizing entrepreneurship development programmes through the collaboration of various departments and they need to be educated about income-generating processes like value addition, processing, and measures to reduce crop losses.