Identifying Priority Strategies for Entrepreneurial Development in the Poultry Industry: Evidence from Mashhad, Iran

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Maryam Dehghani
Hosein Mohammadi
Alireza Karbasi
Sasan Esfandiari Bahraseman
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
The increasing demand for food, especially poultry products, highlights critical challenges to food security. In this context, agricultural entrepreneurship in the poultry sub-sector plays a vital role in addressing these challenges by enhancing food supply and contributing to economic growth and development. This study specifically focuses on fostering entrepreneurship within the poultry industry in Mashhad County, emphasizing its pivotal role in Iran's economy and its contribution to food security. Using an exploratory research method along with SWOT and Ordinal Priority Approach (OPA) analysis, 18 factors influencing entrepreneurship in the poultry industry were identified and weighted, leading to the development and ranking of 14 strategies. The results indicate that strategies such as transferring the tasks related to the poultry industry from the government to the private sector and using the capacities of knowledge-based companies for innovation in the supply of poultry input have the highest scores. In contrast, strategies such as organizing workshops and training courses and hiring skilled labore (have lower scores. The findings suggest practical concepts for poultry entrepreneurs, including branding, technology adoption, establishing international animal welfare standards, collaborating with knowledge-based companies, and privatization under government supervision. These strategies can foster regional development by promoting entrepreneurship, which in turn can increase employment, economic growth, and productivity, ensuring a balanced distribution of the opportunities and resources.

Keywords

Subjects

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 28, Issue 1
January and February 2026
Pages 65-85