طراحی مدل موانع توسعه کارآفرینی خرد روستایی

Introduction: Entrepreneurship and micro-business development are recognized as a fundamental strategy for diversifying livelihoods, reducing unemployment rates, and preventing migration from rural areas. Handicrafts are considered one of the most effective mechanisms of rural entrepreneurship, which, as one of the most important types of home businesses, plays a vital role in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and also acts as a catalyst for local trade, directly contributing to reducing rural poverty by generating income and employment. Creating sustainable employment and economic development in Mazandaran Province, which is an agricultural hub and is facing climate challenges and a decline in the share of employment in this sector, is of dual importance. Despite the rich indigenous potential in the province, the growth and development of handicraft businesses faces numerous structural, economic, and institutional obstacles that require careful identification and explanation. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify and present a model of barriers and limitations to the development of micro-entrepreneurship in rural handicraft units in Mazandaran province.

Methodology: The present study was of an applied type in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature with a survey method. The statistical population consisted of 2,690 entrepreneurs in rural handicrafts in Mazandaran province. The sample size was determined using G-Power software to be 246 people and was selected using a multi-stage random stratified sampling method with proportional assignment. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. Its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha calculation. The validity (face and content) of the questionnaire was confirmed based on the opinions of a group of experts and specialists in entrepreneurship and rural development and university faculty members. To analyze the data and explain the model, structural equation modeling with partial least squares approach (PLS-SEM) was used using Smart PLS V.3 software.

Findings: This research has identified six categories of obstacles to the development of entrepreneurship in rural handicrafts. According to the path coefficients, managerial-structural barriers (0.822), educational-communicational barriers (0.820), technological and technical barriers (0.754), support-economic barriers (0.662), individual-psychological barriers (0.838), and political-institutional barriers (0.552) were identified as the most important factors inhibiting the development of micro-entrepreneurship in rural handicraft units of Mazandaran province, respectively. Among the various variables of managerial-structural barriers, the most important factor has been the "lack of managerial qualifications of business owners" and the "inefficiency of traditional methods of guiding businesses to improve efficiency."

Discussion and Conclusion: The research findings show that the development of micro-entrepreneurship in rural handicrafts in Mazandaran is a multidimensional issue. The most important limitations and obstacles to the development of micro-entrepreneurship in handicrafts, according to entrepreneurs, were external (political-institutional) obstacles. While the structural analysis of the model confirms that internal weaknesses (managerial-structural) and deficiencies in knowledge and technical infrastructure (educational-communicational and technological) are the greatest inhibiting factors. This study recommends that for the sustainable development of entrepreneurship in rural handicrafts in Mazandaran, a comprehensive and multifaceted approach should be taken that simultaneously addresses managerial, educational, financial, and institutional issues. The results of this research can help planners and policymakers to develop effective support strategies that are tailored to local conditions, with a deep understanding of existing barriers. this will not only help create employment and increase the income of villagers, but will also lead to the preservation and revival of local culture and art. In this regard, applied management training along with holding practical and short-term workshops on financial management, marketing, pricing, and human resource management appropriate to the conditions of rural businesses, reforming and simplifying laws and regulations related to business registration and obtaining permits to start rural small businesses, establishing agricultural knowledge-based companies and rural small industries with the support of science and technology parks for rural youth and agricultural graduates, along with tax exemptions and insurance facilities, are proposed. In terms of management barriers, it is recommended to pay attention to training and empowering local managers, especially strengthening the management skills of rural women and youth by holding special workshops for rural women to enhance their role in managing home businesses and rural cooperatives. In terms of removing structural barriers, attention should also be paid to strengthening the local and participatory planning system with decision-making by local councils and popular institutions and the participation of women entrepreneurs. In this regard, the use of microcredit funds and participatory investment is also recommended. In terms of removing communication barriers, opportunities for exchanging information and experiences between entrepreneurs can be provided by developing communication networks and creating and supporting online platforms and local networking groups.