Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

A STUDY ON ENTREPRENEURIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND THE CONSTRAINTS FACED BY WOMEN INVOLVED IN FOOD ENTERPRISE IN CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT

Chandrakala Hanagi and Neena Joshi

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a vital area for overall economic sustenance and development of any nation. Women have the potential to be successful entrepreneurs in the food sector as they have qualities desirable and relevant for food sector. In the process of entrepreneurship women have to face various problems associated with entrepreneurship success. Hence, this study was conducted to analyse entrepreneurial characters and different constrains faced by women involved in small food enterprise. Primary data was collected through pretested schedule by selecting one hundred women entrepreneurs. Majority of women started business to give financial support to the family, and owns micro level home scale food enterprise (43%). In the study group 42% of women had 2-4 years of experience in their respective enterprises. Most of the (73%) women were marketing their produce through direct sale and retail market. Amongst all the constraints cited by women entrepreneurs, lack of structured market facilities gained first rank, followed by poor price for the product at market and also responsibility of family and household work. All these constraints acts like a barriers in the overall development of women enterprise. Hence, structured market faculties and in time loans should be made available to women through Government and NGO,s. Separate outlets for the marketing of the products from women entrepreneurs should be encouraged.