This paper examines the factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions in the fisheries sector in Kashmir. We argue that an individual’s entrepreneurial spirit is shaped by societal norms, institutional factors, and the knowledge they possess. A survey was conducted among 120 final-year agricultural students from various faculties, including horticulture, agriculture, fisheries, and veterinary sciences, with 30 students from each group. The analysis focused on the internship students of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, India, utilizing Hofstede's model of cultural dimensions. The findings reveal that the group exhibits high levels of individualism, strong masculinity, pronounced uncertainty avoidance, and a significant power distance. The lack of effective governance in the region has notably hindered the population's risk-taking capacity. Recommendations include exploring student engagement through initiatives like farming simulation games and fostering direct collaboration between students and the government to harness the available human resources better

Entrepreneurship, fisheries, intention, agriculture, culture, Kashmir

Besides the economic factors, culture and the institutional set-up of a region have a tremendous role to play, and they directly affect the entrepreneurial spirit of a person. It was the core idea behind this research. During our whole study, we demonstrated that the investigated group, in its entrepreneurial spirit, is greatly influenced by cultural and institutional variables. The high level of individualism, high degree of masculinity, high power distance and weak uncertainty avoidance were observed in the investigated population. If the institutional set-up is improved, we can see an improvement in the entrepreneurial performance of the studied group. The students are showing strong uncertainty avoidance because of the lack of good governance. Otherwise, a tremendous hidden potential and professional knowledge could pave the way for them. We hope the institutional conditions will be improved to harness these students' hidden potential fully. The students showed a strong need and desire for entrepreneurship education, which they think significantly influenced their entrepreneurial skills and, hence, their performance. So, the important point to be noted here is that education changes the culture of a society. Farm simulation games are another important aspect; students should be allowed to implement their ideas, get results, find possible solutions, and gain experience. Because we believe the development of any nation depends on the impact of education on the minds of its people. If the impact is greater, the development will be high, hence the nation's standard of living and welfare. As Kashmir Valley is an agricultural region, considering these students are the best human resources available, their suggestions and valuable comments should be considered. Future studies can be done in different fields of agriculture and allied sciences by considering gender as a variable. Postgraduate students can also be included in future studies, as they are more practical and have more knowledge and need; hence, they can give better results. Open debate should be held at least once a year, where all the SKUAST-Kashmir students, higher government authorities, and teachers should be there. It should be the student-government interaction without involving the third party. The students should be allowed to offer their suggestions and demands so that the higher authorities can develop better solutions and fulfil their demands to the maximum possible extent. The government should take the first step to come forward; it is the need of the hour right now. The government should collaborate directly with the students, like helping them open a new set-up – aqua tourism in tourist places by providing them with financial support. It will not only improve their condition but also help bring harmony and hope to them. It can generate revenue and attract other people as well. Due to the lack of good governance, people, especially the younger generation born during the unrest, have lost all their hopes in government, so it can be one step in gaining trust. Good governance will reduce the corruption level considerably, reducing uncertainty avoidance because the students are afraid to take any risk due to the high level of corruption in the valley

Shahid Gul, Neha W. Qureshi, Shakir Ahmad Mir, Uzair Shafiq, Gowhar Iqbal and Haziq Qayoom lone (2024). Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intentions in the Fisheries Sector: A Study of Agricultural Students in Kashmir. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(9): 49-57.