This study examined the structure and function of human networks formed by female farmers-cum-entrepreneurs who process and sell their individual agricultural products in Miyagi Pref. and Shiga Pref.
Female farmers-cum-entrepreneurs with extensive experience in farming acquire distribution channels and management resources through their existing networks.
Young female farmers-cum-entrepreneurs, who are new to farming, develop such channels and resources (including farming technology) useful to their farmlands by building networks from scratch.
This study observed the minimum effective size of such a network. It was found that existing networks were not sufficient to develop the requisite network of distribution channels and management resources to support business expansion. Thus, it can be argued that forming new networks is more effective to enable business expansion.
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