SWOT Analysis of Horticulture Based Entrepreneurial Development Potential in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra

The present study was conducted to analyse the potential of entrepreneurial development in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, considering its significance in the national horticulture production. Nasik and Nagpur from Maharashtra and Agra and Lucknow from Uttar Pradesh were selected purposively for the study. While employing the SWOT methodology, it was found that the raw material’s timely availability (MPS = 93.33) and high aspiration of people to diversify their source of income (MPS = 90.00) were the two major strengths in the entrepreneurial environment of Uttar Pradesh. At the same time, the prevalence of resource-poor small and marginal farmers (MPS = 90.00) and inadequate information and technical support on a regular basis (MPS = 86.66) were the critical weaknesses. While in the case of Maharashtra, strong network of farmers cooperatives/organizations (MPS=90.00) and positive entrepreneurial culture (MPS = 83.33) were identified as significant strengths for hortibased entreneurial development. However, the seasonality of raw products (MPS = 86.66), lack of access to modern machinery (MPS = 83.33), and poor access to credit to small farmers were the critical weaknesses. This study suggests the need to develop timely and need-based government intervention and favorable policy supports to address the limitation and fully realize the true potential of horticulture.