Development and standardization of a Guava Farmer Entrepreneurial Index (GFEI): A tool for measuring entrepreneurial behaviour

Entrepreneurial behaviour plays a crucial role in enhancing the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of agricultural enterprises. In the context of guava cultivation, entrepreneurial competencies enable farmers to effectively adopt innovations, manage risks, access markets, and respond to emerging business opportunities. The present study was undertaken to develop and standardize a Guava Farmer Entrepreneurial Index (GFEI) for measuring entrepreneurial behaviour among guava farmers. The index was developed through a systematic procedure involving identification of dimensions, item generation, relevancy analysis, content validation, reliability testing and standardization. Based on an extensive review of literature and expert consultation, ten dimensions of entrepreneurial behaviour were identified. A pool of 100 statements was initially developed and edited according to the criteria suggested by Edwards (1957). The statements were subjected to relevancy analysis by a panel of experts, and statements with a relevancy weightage score greater than 0.75 were retained. Consequently, 59 statements were selected for inclusion in the final index. Content validity was established through expert judgment and relevancy assessment. The reliability of the instrument was tested using the test–retest method with a sample of 30 guava farmers, yielding a reliability coefficient (r) of 0.79, which was significant at the one per cent level. The finalized GFEI was administered to 60 guava farmers in Dindigul district to assess its applicability under field conditions. The results revealed that 48.33 per cent of the respondents exhibited medium entrepreneurial behaviour, followed by 30.00 per cent with high entrepreneurial behaviour and 21.67 per cent with low entrepreneurial behaviour. The findings confirmed that the developed index is a reliable and valid tool for assessing entrepreneurial behaviour among guava farmers and can be effectively utilized for research, extension, and policy interventions aimed at promoting agripreneurship.