Exploring the Leadership Role of the Malaysian Department of Agriculture (DOA) in Developing Local Communities

This research investigates the leadership role of the Malaysian DOA in developing local communities. It focuses on the practices of agricultural agents and specialists. Despite the critical overlap between DOA and local community development, there is a lack of systematic analysis regarding the specific practices employed by DOA staff as facilitators of change in local communities. A qualitative study addressed this gap, utilizing directed content analysis of DOA success stories. Key findings reveal that DOA staff actively encourage solidarity, build community capacity, and promote agency through various practices, including needs assessment, group establishment, and self-help. The results indicate that agents contribute more significantly to community development practices than specialists, highlighting their direct involvement at the local level. This study enhances the understanding of community development processes facilitated by DOA and informs their staff of training and professional development strategies. The findings remind the Malaysian agricultural leaders of the significance of integrating community development theories into DOA practices to strengthen their impact on community engagement and resilience.