Unveiling government support in shaping farmers’ entrepreneurial mindset and intention

This study explores the critical role of government support in shaping smallholder farmers’ sustainable entrepreneurial intentions, employing the Triple Bottom Line and governance framework. This study was conducted in four districts of Tamil Nadu, engaging 93 farmers in 6 focus group discussions with FPOs and FPCs (15 participants each) and personal interviews with 3 agripreneurs. Using qualitative methodologies, the research employed NVivo 15 for data organization and thematic analysis through an interpretive structural modeling approach to identify enabling factors of farmers’ entrepreneurial intention. The findings reveal interconnected enablers such as direct market access, financial and training support, community collaboration, sustainable farming practices, and good governance. These enablers enhance farmers’ entrepreneurial mindset and intention and promote equity, innovation, and long-term sustainability. Sentiment analysis and thematic visualizations validate the insights, highlighting diverse patterns yet coherent stakeholder priorities aligned with the TBL and governance framework. The findings emphasize the importance of creating entrepreneurial ecosystems through financial schemes, capacity-building initiatives, and market access strategies. This research provides actionable insights for agricultural policy, integrating governance into the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework to enhance decision-making, support Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs), and boost community involvement. This study bridges critical gaps in sustainability frameworks, empowering policymakers and stakeholders to develop inclusive, effective support systems tailored to smallholder farmers’ unique needs. This will ultimately pave the way for resilient and sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship.