Abstract:
The aim of this research was to determine the drivers of business success for small
commercial farming enterprises. The study also sought to identify the financial and nonfinancial
measurements used by small commercial farmers to measure the success of
businesses. The study followed the qualitative research design which followed an inductive
approach. Primary data were collected from 13 research participants through a semistructured
interview guide. The responses from participants were recorded, transcribed, and
analysed in Atlas ti. 9 using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) analytical
approach. The findings from the study revealed some important insights that add to the
existing knowledge of business success factors for small commercial farming enterprises. The
study showed that the success of small commercial farming enterprises is determined by
farmer characteristics, strategic planning activities, and farm resources and features. With
regard to farmer characteristics, the study suggests that perseverance of effort, passion for
farming, broad farm management skills, and technical knowledge and skills are the main
factors influencing the performance of small commercial farming enterprises. As for the farm
resources and features, the study has revealed that farm infrastructure, farming equipment,
and natural features play a key role in promoting successful farming enterprises. The notable
difference between the findings of this research and those reported in other studies on
business success factors for SMEs is that this study has revealed some features that are
unique to farming but, contribute to overall business success such as topography, rainfall,
arable land, permanent source of water, drainage, and sufficient grazing capacity. In the case
of strategic planning activities, the results revealed some key strategic planning activities that
drive the success of small commercial farming enterprises such as financial planning,
marketing planning, and production planning. The study has also demonstrated that small
commercial farmers use financial and non-financial measurements to measure the success of
their businesses. To tie all the findings together, a conceptual model for analysing the
performance of small commercial farming enterprises has been developed. The study
recommends that small commercial farmers should receive financial literacy training in order
to increase understanding of the basic financial principles which promote farm productivity,
profitability and overall business success. In addition, it is recommended that support rendered
to small commercial farming enterprises by public and private institutions must focus on
variables that improve the performance of their businesses such as the ones found in this
study. Future research should focus on testing the validity, relevance and applicability of the
conceptual model developed in different farming enterprises.
