D.M.ChandargiRavindra.B.Belli2016-07-222016-07-222008http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/69414(Bijapur and Indi) were purposively selected. The president of zilla panchayat, two taluk panchayats and 46 gram panchayat from Bijapur and 44 from Indi were selected for the study making a total sample size of 93. The important findings of the study were; nearly half (45.16%) of leaders were under large farmers category. The annual income of respondents was low (38.70%). Presidents mostly involved in all kinds of social activities i.e., medium social participation (39.78%), medium (40.86%) and high extension participation (30.11%), respectively. Majority of the respondents were cosmopolite, scientific, liberal and having higher aspirations with regard to their value orientation. Majority of the leaders had high decision making ability (51.62%), high risk orientation (44.09%) and high achievement motivation (44.09%). Majority of the leaders were democratic in their pattern of leadership with consultative type (52.69%), followed by non democratic with autocratic pattern (8.60%) of leadership. Large majority of presidents (90.32%) had knowledge about subsidy component followed by national horticulture mission (86.02%), procurement of horticulture seedlings (84.95%), package of practices (77.42%), horticulture training (36.56%). organic farming in horticulture (62.36%). Overall knowledge level of presidents about horticulture development was medium (56.98%), followed by high (24.72%) knowledge level Out of 15 selected independent variables, eight exhibited highly positive and significant relationship with the leadership pattern. Further regression analysis revealed that five variables contributed significantly with the leadership pattern. Path analysis revealed that social participation (0.432), education (0.196) caused highest positive direct and total indirect effect, respectively. Suggestions for effective performance include providing area and population based and regular allotment of funds to panchayats as suggested by majority (91.40%) of presidents, followed by providing proper training to newly elected members and office bearers regarding their roles and responsibilities (83.67%).Thesis