Fish processing enterprise development: a study of women enterpreneurs in Pursat and Battambang Provinces, Cambodia | |
| Author | San Sophany |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-15-07 |
| Subject(s) | Fishery processing industries--Combodia Women--Combodia--Social conditions |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilmentof the requirements for thedegree of Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-15-07 |
| Abstract | This study has two purposes: (1) to investigate the fish processing enterprise development by different types of entrepreneurs ; (2) to identify motivational reasons and the constraints/factors that differentiate enterprise development, and the advantage s and challenges of entrepreneurs who work collectively or individually. The quantitative data were collected through standardized questionnaire survey administered on 167 participants, selected using purposive sampl ing and qualitative data through semi -structured interviews via interview checklist, from six floating villages in Pursat and four villages in Battambang provinces. The study found that majority of female respondents was small scale entrepreneurs, whereas majority of males was seasonal entrepreneurs. The average age of female respondents was 40.41 years, whereas of males was 42.27 years. Majority of male and female respondents were married. Majority of male respondents had secondary education, while more than half of the female were illiterate. There was insignificant differ ence due to motivational reasons for involvement in fish processing enterprise be tween types of entrepreneurs . Men and women engaged in fish processing enterprise to diversify sources of income, pay for children’s schooling, and debt s payment due to medical fees, inspired by parents or neighbors , and the profitability of processed fish. The influencing factors and constraints each type of entrep reneurs faced have differentiated their ente rprise s development . Seasonal entrepreneurs developed their enterprise by processing smoked fish and boneless fish paste for consumers and retailers. Small scale entrepreneurs processed semi -processed fish paste and bony fish paste selling to middle women and wholesalers as their creditors. Women middle scale entrepreneurs bought semi -processed fish paste to process as final fish paste for selling to wholesalers in various provinces. Men middle scale entrepreneurs focused on bony fish paste for supply ing to wholesalers within province. Women producer groups processed fish based on market demand for selling to agreed buyers. Women cooperatives focused on semi -processed fish paste to supply to Thai clients. Both women middle scale and women cooperative s lend a dvanced money to processors to secure their processed fish products. Women entrepreneurs’ individual habits , traits , and misconception of collective work have discouraged them from working in groups; however, higher profitability and enterprise growth due to collective work have helped in overcoming the challenges they face in working together. In working individually, entrepreneurs have choice of production, and no group responsibility; however, they are isolated from processed fish networks, lacking of ma rket information and capital for investment. The study concludes that men’s and women’s participation and performance in fish processing business are inspired and shaped by socio- cultural and socio -economic aspects. Personal behaviors, traditions, misconception of group work, and imbalance power in the group lead entrepreneurs work individually. As such, any intervention programs and policies for the entrepreneurial development of these particular women and men should take into consideration their identif ied characteristics and the unique impart they have on their entrepreneurial behaviors. |
| Year | 2015 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-15-07 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Doneys, Philippe;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2015 |