INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION FOR SELF-RELIANCE IN BENUE STATE

Abstract This study investigated the influence of entrepreneurial practices—business planning, marketing skills, and risk management—on sustainable agricultural production in Benue State, with a specific focus on Makurdi Local Government Area. The primary aim was to examine how these entrepreneurship dimensions contribute to productivity, self-reliance, and long-term agricultural sustainability among rural farmers. A descriptive survey design was employed, drawing a population of 3,000 registered smallholder farmers from which 149 respondents were sampled using Yamane’s formula; however, 142 valid responses were analyzed. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire that was validated by experts and achieved a reliability coefficient of 0.82. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to summarize responses, while Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analyses tested the hypotheses at a 5% significance level using SPSS. The findings revealed that business planning, marketing skills and risk management each exerted a significant positive influence on sustainable agricultural production. Farmers who adopted structured planning, effective marketing approaches, and risk management practices demonstrated greater productivity, market access, and resilience against shocks. The study concluded that entrepreneurial skills are indispensable for promoting sustainable agriculture in Benue State. It recommended that government agencies, NGOs, and cooperatives intensify entrepreneurship training, improve access to agricultural finance, and enhance rural infrastructure to strengthen farmers’ capacity for sustainable production.