Moderating Effect of Management Policy on the Relationship between Agricultural Commodity Export and Entrepreneurial Performance of Exporting Firms in Nigeria

The main purpose of this study is to examine the moderating effect of management policy on the relationship between agricultural commodity export and entrepreneurial performance of exporting firms in Nigeria. To achieve this objective, this study postulated seven research hypotheses on the effect of management policy on the relationship between agricultural commodity export and entrepreneurship performance of exporting firms in Nigeria. The study adopted a quantitative research design, using a descriptive approach and a cross-sectional survey design. The study adopted primary sources using structured questionnaires. Data was collected from 1326 owners/managers of exporting firms in Nigeria, while the sample size is 297 (Krejcie and Morgan, 1970), and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Interestingly, the study found that agricultural commodity export has a significant effect on the entrepreneurial performance of exporting firms in Nigeria. Also, the study established that management policy exerts a significant moderating effect on the relationship between agricultural commodity export and entrepreneurial performance of exporting firms in Nigeria. Hence, export intensity and export capabilities have a significant effect on entrepreneurial performance. As well, management policy has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between export intensity and entrepreneurial performance, and the relationship between export capabilities and entrepreneurial performance. However, the study found that export readiness has no significant effect on entrepreneurial performance. Yet, management policy has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between export readiness and entrepreneurial performance. The study recommends that managers should prioritize management policy as a mechanism to sustain export intensity and revamp export capabilities, in order to boost entrepreneurial performance, profitability, and competitiveness of firms in international markets.

Entrepreneurial performance, agricultural commodity export, export intensity, export readiness, export capabilities

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