Commitment Competency and Growth of Aquaculture-Based Small Enterprises in Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/jepm.2474Keywords:
Commitment Competency, Growth, Aquaculture-Based Small EnterprisesAbstract
Purpose: This study evaluated the influence of commitment competency on growth of small enterprises in Kenya.
Methodology: The study adopted descriptive research design using mixed methods approach. The target population was 600 fish farmers in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study utilized purposive sampling to select fish farmers within Nyeri County, then cluster sampling to identify fish farmers in their various sub-counties. Simple random sampling was then utilized to select respondents for the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. A pilot study was conducted to test validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Regression analysis and chi-square were used to test for significant associations between the dependent and independent variables. The findings were presented in frequency tables, pie charts, bar graphs and scatter diagrams in the final report.
Findings: The findings indicated that commitment competency and growth had weak inverse linear statistical relationship. The study concluded that fish farmers are already aware of the many hurdles involved in fish farming but they remain resilient in doing what it takes to achieve the goals set for their fish farms. It is not the lack of commitment on their part that contributes to the stagnating or declining of their businesses. Instead, other challenges such as lack of crucial inputs such as reliable and quality feeds, quality fingerlings, adequate water, lack of business management knowledge, lack of market accessibility and capital contribute to the dismal performance of their businesses.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The government and NGOs should provide subsidized inputs and promote cottage industries to enhance aquaculture value chains. In addition, extension officers should be equipped with resources like water testing kits, and water harvesting should be encouraged in water-scarce areas.
Downloads
References
Abdullah,A., Perasna, S., Noorshella, B., Noor R. (2016). Entrepreneurial Competencies and Performance of Informal Micro-Enterprises in Malaysia. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 7(3).
Bird, B. (1995). Toward a Theory of Entrepreneurial Competency. Advances in Entrepreneurship, Firm Emergence, and Growth. 2, 51-72.
Botha, M., Nieman, G., & Vuuren, J. (2006). Enhancing female entrepreneurship by enabling access to skill. Entrepreneurship Management 3(1), 479-493
Creswell, J. & Creswell, D. (2022). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. (6th Ed). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc
Eijdenberg, E. (2016). Does one size fit all? A look at Entrepreneurial Motivation and Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Informal Economy of Tanzania. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 22(6), 804-834
Fatoki, O. (2012). The Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation on Access to Entrepreneurial Finance on Growth of Small Enterprises in Pretoria, South Africa. International Journal of Social Science, 32(2), 121-131
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations - FAO (2022). A report on The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. https://reliefweb.int/organization/fao
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations - FAO (2015). State World Fisheries and Aquaculture: Opportunities and Challenges. Rome 2015.
Gherhes, C., Williams, N., Vorley, T., & Vasconcelos, A. (2016). Distinguishing Micro-businesses from SMEs: A systematic review of growth constraints. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development 23(4) 939-963
Gupta, P., Guha, S., & Krishnaswami, S. (2013). Firm Growth and its Determinants. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2(15)
Gustomo, A., Herliana, S., Dhewanto, W., & Ghina, A. (2017). Building a Conceptual Framework of Entrepreneurial Competencies: The Ontological, Epistemological and Methodological View. International Journal of Applied Business and Economic Research 15(10) 191-201
Irene, B. (2016). Women Entrepreneurs. A Cross-Cultural Study of the Impact of the Commitment Competency on the Success of Female-Owned SMMEs in South Africa. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research 27(2) 70-83
Kananu, G., & Mutiso, J.M. (2018). Influence of Entrepreneurial Competency on Sustainability of Trading Micro and Small Enterprises in Nairobi County, Kenya. International Journal of Arts and Entrepreneurship 7(10).
Kiwara, A., Ngugi, P., & Karanja, J. (2016). Management Competence and Growth of Micro and Small Manufacturing Enterprises in Kenya. International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship 6(1).
Kor, Y., Mahoney, J., Siemsen, E., & Tan, D. (2016). Penrose’s Theory of the Growth of the Firm: An Exemplar of Engaged Scholarship. Production and Operations Management Society 25(10), 1727-1744
Long, D. & Dong, N., (2017). The effect of experience and innovativeness of entrepreneurial opportunities on the new venture emergence in China: The moderating effect of munificence. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 9 (1) 21-34
Mamun, A., Fazal, S., & Muniady, R. (2019). Entrepreneurial knowledge, skills, competencies and performance: A study of micro-enterprises in Kelantan, Malaysia. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 13(1) 29-48
Mitchelmore, S. & Rowley, J. (2013). Entrepreneurial Competencies of Women Entrepreneurs Pursuing Business Growth. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development 20(1) 125-142
Munguti, J., Obiero, K., Orina, P., Mwaluma, J., Mirera, D., Ochiewo, J., Kairo, J., Njiru, M. (2017). State of Aquaculture in Kenya (1st ed). WestLink Services Limited, Nairobi Kenya.
Mwaniki, M. (2018). Effect of Entrepreneurial Competency on Success of Women Entrepreneurs in Bungoma County. European Journal of Business and Management 10(21).
Ng, H., & Kee, D. (2013). Effect of entrepreneurial competencies on firm performance under the influence of organizational culture. Life Science Journal, 10(4), 2459-2466.
Noor, Z. & Mamun, A. (2018). Entrepreneurial Competency, Competitive Advantage and Performance of Informal Women Micro-entrepreneurs in Kelantan, Malaysia. Journal of Enterprising Communities, People and Places in the Global Economy. 12(3) 299-321
Obiero, K., Cai, J., Abila, R., & Ajayi, O. (2019a). High aquaculture growth needed to improve food security and nutrition. Rome, Italy http://www.fao.org/3/ca4693en/ca4693en.pdf
Obiero, K.O., Waidbacher, H., Nyawanda B.O., Munguti, J.M., Manyala, J.O., & Kaunda-Arara, B. (2019). Predicting uptake of Aquaculture technologies among smallholder fish farmers in Kenya. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-019-00423-0
Obwanga, B., Soma, K., Ingasia Ayuya, O., Rurangwa, E., van Wonderen, D., Beekman, G., & Kilelu, C. (2020). Exploring Enabling Factors for Commercializing the Aquaculture sector in Kenya. 3R Research report 011. Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen.
Ongoro, V., B. & Kihara, A. (2017). Owner Characteristics and Growth of Micro and Small Enterprises in Nairobi City County in Kenya. International Journal of Arts and Entrepreneurship. 6(5) 1-18.
Rurangwa, E.; Obwanga, B.; Kilelu, C. and Soma, K. (2018). A comparative study of aquaculture sector development in Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria: Insights and lessons for Kenya. 3R Kenya Practice Brief 004
Sánchez, J. (2012). The Influence of Entrepreneurial Competencies on Small Firm Performance. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología, 44(2), 165-177.
Shane, S., Locke, E.A. & Collins, C.J. (2003). Entrepreneurial motivation. Human Resource Management Review, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 257-80.
Tehseen, S., Ahmed, F., Qureshi, Z., Uddin, M., & Ramayah. T. (2019). Entrepreneurial Competencies and SME’s Growth: The Mediating Role of Network Competence. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration 11(1) 2-29
Tehseen, S., & Anderson, A. (2020). Cultures and entrepreneurial competencies; ethnic propensities and performance in Malaysia. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies 12(5) 643-666
United Nations (2022). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022. Report retrieved from URL https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2022/
Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An Introductory Analysis. (2nd Ed.), New York: Harper and Row, New York.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Virginia Mwara Thuku, Dr. Anaya Senelwa, Dr. Susan Naikuru
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
