Leadership in Agricultural Research and Extension

Abstract

Alexander Solzhenitsyn suggested that legalistic relationships create an atmosphere of spiritual mediocrity that paralyses men's noblest spirits. In this paper, I begin the search to break out of the traditional package of legalistic management approaches applied to agricultural research and extension in the 1970's and 1980's. I have reflected upon the experience of different leaders in various agricultural systems of the developing world. Now I would like to posit nine qualities associated with creative leadership. I hope that they provide useful ‘lightning rods’ both for donors and for leaders with spirit in the newly emerging democracies as we enter the 21st century.