Assessing the Entrepreneurial Behaviour of Tribal Women Involved in Sericulture: A Study in Dhemaji District, Assam, India

Abstract

The study was undertaken to evaluate the entrepreneurial orientation of tribal farm women engaged in sericulture activities. Sericulture, being one of the most promising agro-based enterprises in Assam, provides substantial livelihood opportunities and contributes to women’s socio-economic empowerment. The research was carried out in Dhemaji district of Assam, purposively selected for its prominence in sericulture production. A total of 120 respondents were selected through multistage random sampling across ten villages. Primary data were collected using a pre-tested structured interview schedule, and entrepreneurial behaviour was measured using a standardised scale. Analytical tools such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Entrepreneurial Behaviour Index (EBI), and Weighted Mean Score (WMS) were employed for interpretation. The results revealed that a majority (69.17%) of the respondents exhibited a medium level of entrepreneurial behaviour, followed by 17.50 percent with low and 13.33 percent with high levels. Among the behavioural components, self-efficacy ranked first, followed by social involvement and opportunity detection, indicating strong self-confidence and social participation among the respondents. Conversely, leadership ability and creativity ranked lowest, suggesting a need for strengthening leadership and innovative capacities through targeted interventions. The study concludes that tribal women engaged in sericulture possess considerable entrepreneurial potential, which can be harnessed through systematic training, capacity-building programmes, and institutional support. Enhancing their access to resources, credit, and market linkages would further promote sericulture as a sustainable avenue for women-led entrepreneurship and rural development in Assam.