Perceptions of the Institutional and Support Environment amongst Young Agricultural Entrepreneurs in Laos

Efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable agricultural-sector growth in developing economies will benefit from agricultural entrepreneurship (agripreneurship) by young farmers. However, challenges that hinder transition subsistence commercial agriculture remain. A better understanding of enablers constraints farmers experience can facilitate the development an enabling environment for sustainably transitioning into agriculture. We interviewed 74 entrepreneurs (agripreneurs) Laos, a country with highly rural population, explore their perceptions institutions support functions enable or limit agripreneurship. Respondents reported have generally improved make agripreneurship easier than before, infrastructure, logistics, new platforms information sharing, banking, marketing, delivery identified as specific improvements. agripreneurs weaknesses nature, scope, quality extension services performance; difficulties accessing loans favorable conditions, which discourages investment; opaque costly payments red tape processes frustrate business establishment, operations, regulatory compliance; lack targeted policy actions towards youth agripreneurship, leaves feeling unsupported. Improvements promotion agri-careers, more transparency taxation, registration, administration fees/systems are recommended.