A socio-entrepreneurship empowerment model for coffee farmers to sustain soil fertility practices

Abstract

The findings showed that external assistance is shown to be a crucial for encouraging socio-entrepreneurship among coffee growers working to sustain soil fertility in Rejang Lebong Regency. Key drivers included financial access, cooperatives, and government initiatives, which significantly boost socio-entrepreneurship (β = 0.46, p < 0.01). Access to financing and stable coffee prices enabled growers to invest confidently in sustainable land management. Farmer capacity, mainly through education, training, and agricultural knowledge, was also important (β = 0.20, p = 0.05) and leaded to a better understanding of sustainable practices and enhanced use of digital tools for technical and market information, improving entrepreneurial readiness. Notably, the direct effect of soil fertility practices alone on socio-entrepreneurship was not significant. Conservation strategies such as terracing, shade planting, and composting with coffee waste are seen as standard for productivity but not as entrepreneurial opportunities. Factors, such as limited technology, restricted markets, and weak economic incentives, prevented the farmers from turning ecological practices into profitable ventures. Overall, advancing socio-entrepreneurship in coffee farming requires combining environmental sustainability with social and economic support. The most important enabling conditions are found to access and finance, strengthened farmer capacity, and transparent, stable markets.