Examining the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and performance of vegetable growers in Bangladesh

Purpose This study investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and farm performance among vegetable growers in Bangladesh, with a specific focus on its implications for food security, economic stability and health outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Using a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach, data from 144 vegetable farmers are analyzed to assess the influence of key entrepreneurial attributes–knowledge acquisition, risk-taking, innovation, collaboration and proactiveness–on farm performance and its broader socio-economic impacts. Findings The results indicate a strong positive relationship between EO and farm performance. Enhanced farm performance, in turn, significantly contributes to food security, economic resilience and improved health outcomes. Entrepreneurial attributes such as innovation, risk-taking and collaboration are particularly influential in improving the productivity and market competitiveness of smallholder vegetable farmers. Additionally, the study underscores the critical role of EO in fostering economic security and enhancing the adaptive capacity of rural farmers in developing economies. Research limitations/implications The research implications from the data analysis suggest the need for a deeper examination of entrepreneurial behaviour (EB) dimensions among farmers. Future studies should explore how specific EB components identified through EFA and confirmed by reliability analysis, influence farm performance and security outcomes. The positive relationships established through SEM between EB and food, economic and health security highlight the importance of integrating EB into agricultural development strategies. Additionally, further research could investigate the role of contextual factors, such as education and farm size, in moderating these relationships, thereby refining interventions to enhance farm performance in challenging contexts. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence linking EO to agricultural productivity, market access and food system resilience. By highlighting the role of entrepreneurial behaviour in strengthening economic and health security, it underscores the necessity of promoting entrepreneurial initiatives among smallholder farmers to enhance agricultural sustainability and rural livelihoods. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, agricultural extension services and development practitioners seeking to improve food security and economic stability through entrepreneurial capacity-building in the agricultural sector.