Socio-economic impact assessment of rural entrepreneurs: Cases of REMODE aquaculture training Pparticipants

This study focuses on rural entrepreneurship and social-economic impact after an intervention program. Previous studies on rural entrepreneurship only revealed the factors that influenced the capacity and capability of rural entrepreneurs. The studies related to intervention of entrepreneurship training programmes that impacted socio- economic of rural entrepreneurs are still scarce. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to study the socio-economic impact assessment of rural entrepreneurs involved in the Rural Entrepreneurship Model (REMODE) aquaculture training programme. REMODE is an entrepreneurship training programme for the aquaculture industry which aims to increase the entrepreneurship knowledge that can lead to the eradication of poverty among rural society. This study employs a qualitative research method using an inductive approach, case study strategy and thematic analysis technique. The purposive sampling method was used to select 15 informants. The interview data were collected using semi-structured interview technique that based on the Fishery Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Model. The finding indicates that the REMODE training programme demonstrates the positive changes in individual attributes, social community attributes, social problems and economic attributes of rural entrepreneurs. This research produces empirical evidence that enriched the entrepreneurship body of knowledge in rural entrepreneurs in overcoming obstacles of socio-economic attributes. Future research should focus more on qualitative study but in a different context of socio-economic impact assessment because each context has diverse challenges and unique characteristics.