Factor analysis of key drivers shaping agricultural entrepreneurship in Bamyan, Afghanistan

Agricultural entrepreneurship is considered one of the most important rural and urban development strategies today. Although entrepreneurship is not the only solution for job creation and increasing the income of rural people, it is certainly the most effective and rapid approach. This research aims to examine the factors affecting agricultural entrepreneurship development in the Bamyan Province center. For that purpose, a quantitative methodology using a non-experimental (survey) strategy was utilized. The main research tool was a questionnaire with a Cronbach's alpha reliability score of 0.767. The statistical population of this research consists of all agricultural entrepreneurs in the Bamyan Province center, with a sample size of 106 selected using Cochran's formula. In addition to descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis was used to analyze data. The results of the exploratory factor analysis indicate that six factors (knowledge and awareness, infrastructure, self-confidence, government support, economic factors, and educational and human support) account for 69.28% of the total observed variance in participants' opinions regarding the development of agricultural entrepreneurship in the study area. Among these, knowledge and awareness have the greatest impact, while educational and human support have the least. The findings of this study can provide valuable insights for stakeholders and officials in the field of entrepreneurship in Afghanistan.