Abstract:
As a developing country, it is important for Sri
Lanka to consider the export sector in achieving
the desired economic goals and still, Sri Lanka is
a country that has prioritized the export of
agricultural products. Entrepreneurship plays the
most important role in achieving the economic
development of a country, and considering Sri
Lanka, small and medium-scale agricultural
entrepreneurship
makes
a
remarkable
contribution to it. When considering the export
sector, the contribution of small and medium-scale
agricultural enterprises is at a very low level.
Therefore, this research aimed to gain an
understanding of the knowledge and practices of
small and medium-scale agricultural enterprises
about the export market and to assist in the
development of the export market accordingly.
Out of 1,376 small and medium-scale
entrepreneurs registered in the Galgamuwa and
Giribawa
Divisional
Secretariats
of
the
Kurunegala District, 250 were selected as a
sample using a simple random method. A
principal component analysis was conducted to
identify the main factors affecting it, in which the
factors of literacy, financial ability, management
ability,
government policies and marketing
capability were identified as internal factors that
have a high impact on the export market and
existing knowledge regarding the export market,
and utilization of knowledge of the export market
were identified as external factors. Accordingly,
proper policies and practical programs are
necessary to empower small and medium-scale
agricultural enterprises. Further, entrepreneurs
can be encouraged to remove the obstacles to
access the export market and achieve the desired
economic development goals for Sri Lanka.
