Exploring Rural Women Entrepreneurship: Insights from Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka

This paper, titled "Exploring Rural Women Entrepreneurship: Insights from Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka" delves into the increasingly vital role of women-owned businesses in India, focusing on rural women. The study, encompassing 120 randomly selected women entrepreneurs from Uttara Kannada district, seeks to examine the factors that motivate these women to choose entrepreneurship and their challenges. Key findings indicate that economic necessity often drives these women into entrepreneurship. However, they face significant hurdles, chiefly the lack of financial support, which impedes the successful operation of their ventures. The study emphasizes the critical contribution of rural women entrepreneurs to the local economy, highlighting their role in generating employment and adding economic value through the utilization of rural resources. The research further explores various aspects of these entrepreneurs' lives, including their demographic profiles, educational backgrounds, marital status, family structures, and business types. It reveals a diverse range of businesses, from garment making to dairy farming, reflecting these entrepreneurs' versatility and adaptive nature. The study also identifies several factors influencing their entrepreneurial journey, such as family support, self-identity, market demands, and the pursuit of employment generation. These insights contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and motivations of rural women entrepreneurs in Karnataka, underscoring the need for tailored support and resources to foster their growth and sustainability.