Abstract:
This research set out to explore how successful rural entrepreneurs are in addressing the challenges they experience in growing their businesses. Their success rate in addressing these challenges impacts their business growth, and thus rural development. The challenges experienced by rural entrepreneurs, their growth intentions, and required interventions were studied. A cross-sectional qualitative research method was used, using a random purposive sample. It was discovered that the entrepreneurs� low success rate in addressing their challenges was mainly attributable to inherent problems relating to their context, such as the remoteness and underdevelopment of the area. Furthermore, poor access to entrepreneurial support and information, and a lack of awareness of available entrepreneurial interventions, exacerbates the problem. The cross-sectional nature of the study made it difficult to measure the entrepreneurs� growth intentions versus their realised growth. The research objective would have been better-served by a longitudinal study over a long period of time. The low success rate highlights that interventions are necessary to address entrepreneurs� challenges, consequently improving their success rate. The suggestions made to support and stimulate entrepreneurial activities are important to various stakeholders including entrepreneurs, government, business, and the surrounding community. Every stakeholder has a role to play in rural development. Keywords: rural development, rural entrepreneurs, challenges, growth intentions.
