The Economic Sustainability of Industrial Potato Production Within Entrepreneurial Strategies

Abstract

The study was driven by rising global potato consumption, the potato sector's economic impact, and the need for ecologically sustainable growing methods. The objective of the study was to identify entrepreneurial activity and the spirit in the context of entrepreneurship to achieve economic sustainability via the cultivation of industrial potatoes. Furthermore, it accurately recognized the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats this agribusiness in Sulaimani Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq is confronting. This study classifies the farmer as an entrepreneur based on his alignment with various entrepreneurial activities, such as product diversification, hiring professional farmers, implementing an irrigation system, owning resources, conducting research and development, adding value to products, engaging in inter-sector interactions, and creating employment opportunities. Additionally, the farmer demonstrates entrepreneurial spirit through activities such as agro-climatic zoning, risk analysis, developing marketing strategies, having a vision, taking advantage of opportunities, encouraging others, employing critical thinking, and displaying resilience. In this study also the SWOT analysis was used. the primary strength identified was the improvement of the economy, whilst the biggest opportunity for the farmer included the establishment of a Lays chips plant by Green Iraq Company. Lastly, the major threats encompassed the lack of financial services and political instability.