Market opportunities seizing capability and fish farming firm performance: A dynamic managerial capability perspective

The role that owner-managers’ managerial capabilities play in agricultural firms' strategic change and performance is still unclear. A firm's market opportunities seizing capability (OSC) is a source of competitiveness and superior performance. The objective of this study is to establish how owner-manager's dynamic managerial capabilities (DMCs) including managerial human capital, managerial social capital and managerial cognition affect firm performance through the mediating effect of OSC, as well as the moderating effect of market dynamism in the relationship OSC and firm performance. 306 cross-sectional data collected at fish farming firms (FFF) level in southern Benin were used and partial least squares structural equation model was applied to test research hypotheses. The results of SmartPLS4 reveal that owner-managers’ DMCs including business ties (BTs), political ties (PTs), and managerial cognition (MC) demonstrate a significant effect at improving FFF market OSC and performance. Finding also underline the significant contribution of market dynamism to FFF performance as well the mediating role of market OSC in the relationship between BTs, PTs, MC, and FFF performance. Findings suggest that FFF owner-managers can achieve superior performance by strengthening their DMCs while improving market OSC. The study provides useful insights to FFF owner-managers, agriculture policymakers and practitioners who are engaged in agriculture firms' strategic management and sustainable performance

Microfinance services for smallholder farmers: An assessment from rice farmers' expectations in Central Benin

This study analyzed the adequacy between credit supply and the expectations of rice farmers in Central Benin to define policies for improved agricultural-oriented financial services. A survey was conducted in October 2016 among 120 rice farmers randomly selected from six rice-farming villages. Data collected through structured and semi-structured interviews included the financial services offered by Microfinance Institutions, socio-demographic characteristics of rice farmers, their expectations and perception. Multivariate analysis combining hierarchical ascending cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to define the distinct groups of rice farmers according to their credit expectations. The unmet expectations of rice farmers for a credit scheme that suits their needs were identified based on the gaps between their expectations and perception. There were three rice farmers' clusters with distinct characteristics based on their expectations. These farmers were not satisfied with all the attributes of the current credit scheme. Pending the effectiveness of the agricultural bank, the approaches such as the inventory credit system are useful in facilitating credit access to smallholder farmers. It is also essential to combine credit supply with financial education and technical support in a system such as contract farming