فرزاد اسکندری

A sample of 72 entrepreneurial firms encompassing a total of 103 top-management team members was selected to conduct a survey investigating factors influencing entrepreneurial performance among graduates of Iranian Higher Agricultural Education System. Data were gathered through an interview-based questionnaire and were then analyzed by SPSS software applying descriptive statistics, step-wise regression, and path analysis. The results indicate that: 1- entrepreneurial performance is positively influenced by the firm’s entrepreneurial posture, individual’s entrepreneurial orientation, environmental hostility, and environmental dynamism; 2- the external environment in which the agricultural entrepreneurs are acting is not munificent as perceived by the respondents; 3- education and training in related areas is positively related to entrepreneurial performance. This is while; Higher Education in Agriculture has played no role in providing the entrepreneurs with the needed skills other than the specialized ones. The results can be used by higher agricultural education policy makers in the process of making decisions regarding integrating entrepreneurship education into curricula. It can also contribute to entrepreneurship development in Iranian Agricultural Sector as well as to people interested in launching an agricultural-related business.