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Agriculture

Agricultural Economics and Resource Management

This Bachelor's programme prepares students for professional careers in agricultural economics and resource management. It develops expertise in economic analysis, agricultural policy, resource allocation, agribusiness management, and sustainable development while building analytical and decision-making skills.

Duration
4 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 433,500
Ksh 1,734,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 433,500 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,734,000 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE or above, plus 4 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, with 8 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 39 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Aquaculture Technologist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

Students analyse agricultural markets, evaluate economic policies, manage natural resources, conduct cost-benefit analyses, design agribusiness strategies, assess environmental impacts, implement resource conservation programmes, and develop agricultural development plans. They also strengthen analytical thinking, quantitative analysis, communication, teamwork, and policy formulation skills.

Kenya's agricultural sector contributes significantly to GDP and employment, creating demand for professionals who can optimize resource use, design effective agricultural policies, manage agribusinesses, and support sustainable agricultural development in the face of climate change and population growth.

The programme combines coursework, case studies, field research, industrial attachment, and economic modeling. Students gain practical experience through agricultural policy analysis, market research, and resource management projects.

Graduates pursue careers as agricultural economists, resource managers, policy analysts, agribusiness consultants, development officers, and agricultural planners across government agencies, financial institutions, NGOs, research organizations, and private agricultural enterprises.

The programme is ideal for students interested in economics, agriculture, resource management, policy analysis, and sustainable development.

What you study

6 subjects
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Resource Management
  • Agribusiness
  • Agricultural Policy
  • Economic Analysis
  • Sustainable Development

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Principles of Agricultural Economics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Fundamental economic principles applied to agriculture, including supply and demand, production functions, and market analysis.

  • Agricultural Production Economics

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Economic analysis of agricultural production systems, including cost analysis, productivity measurement, and optimization.

  • Agricultural Marketing and Price Analysis

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Marketing systems for agricultural products, price determination, market structures, and value chain analysis.

  • Resource Economics

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Economic principles for natural resource management, including valuation, allocation, and sustainability of resources.

  • Agricultural Policy Analysis

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Analysis of agricultural policies, their impacts, and policy design for agricultural development.

  • Agribusiness Management

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Business management principles applied to agricultural enterprises, including financial management and strategic planning.

  • Agricultural Finance and Credit

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Financial systems in agriculture, credit analysis, agricultural insurance, and investment decisions.

  • Farm Management and Planning

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Economic principles of farm management, including budgeting, enterprise selection, and risk management.

  • Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Economic analysis of environmental issues, including externalities, pollution control, and resource conservation.

  • Agricultural Development Economics

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Economic development strategies for agriculture, including rural development, poverty reduction, and food security.

  • Quantitative Methods in Agriculture

    Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore

    Statistical and econometric methods applied to agricultural economics research and analysis.

  • Project Planning and Evaluation

    Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore

    Economic analysis of agricultural projects, including cost-benefit analysis, project appraisal, and monitoring.

Specialisations

  • Agricultural Policy

    Focus on policy analysis, design, and implementation for agricultural development.

  • Agribusiness Management

    Focus on business management, finance, and marketing in agricultural enterprises.

  • Resource Management

    Specialization in natural resource economics, conservation, and sustainable resource use.

A day as a student

Students attend lectures, conduct economic analysis, participate in field research, and engage in policy case studies.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
High demand for agricultural economists due to growing focus on food security and sustainable agriculture.Policy work can be bureaucratic and slow to implement changes.
Diverse career opportunities in government, NGOs, private sector, and international organizations.Fieldwork in rural areas may require extended travel and basic living conditions.
Combines economics with agriculture, offering unique skill set for addressing development challenges.—

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses
Public189k to 434k
189k at Egerton University434k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN MSc Agr Econ 433.5K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 188.7K/yr (egerton.ac.ke). Private unverified.

HELB loans available for eligible students. Some universities offer scholarships based on academic performance.

Funding options

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

Scholarships

1 recorded

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

    LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan

    Kenyan citizens admitted to accredited universities, based on financial need and academic performance.

Scholarships you could apply for

3 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSEminimum entry
Alternative entry

Diploma holders in Agriculture, Economics, or related fields with Credit pass from recognized institutions may also apply.

Subject requirements
MathematicsC+
Biology/ChemistryC+
Economics/Commerce/Business StudiesC
English/KiswahiliC

When it next starts

Taught at 39 institutions
January 202739 institutions

Including Chuka University, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Africa Nazarene University.

May 202738 institutions

Including Chuka University, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Africa Nazarene University.

September 202739 institutions

Including Chuka University, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Africa Nazarene University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat30% of the mark

    Regular tests, assignments, and economic analysis projects throughout the semester.

  • Research Project

    Project100% of the mark

    Independent research project on agricultural economics or resource management topic.

  • Policy Analysis Project

    Project100% of the mark

    Analysis of an agricultural policy issue, including research and recommendations.

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Exam70% of the mark

    Comprehensive written examinations at the end of each semester.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education

    NationalRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya.

Accredited by Commission for University Education (CUE).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Agricultural Economist

    High demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 140,000

    Conduct economic analysis of agricultural systems, advise on policy, and analyze market trends.

  • Agribusiness Consultant

    High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 130,000

    Provide business advice to agricultural enterprises, develop value chains, and facilitate market access.

  • Resource Manager

    High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 110,000

    Manage natural resources, implement conservation programmes, and optimize resource allocation in agriculture.

  • Policy Analyst

    Medium demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 150,000

    Analyze agricultural policies, conduct impact assessments, and advise government and organizations.

  • Development Officer

    Medium demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 95,000

    Implement agricultural development programmes, work with communities, and coordinate rural development projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in agricultural economics, resource management, and policy analysis across Kenya's agricultural sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Agricultural economics is only about farming

    Agricultural economics encompasses the entire food system from input supply to processing, distribution, retail, and policy, covering complex value chains and global markets.

  • Resource management means conservation only

    Resource management balances conservation with sustainable use, economic development, and equitable access, requiring complex trade-off analysis between competing needs.

  • Agricultural policy work is purely theoretical

    Agricultural policy has direct, measurable impacts on food prices, farmer incomes, environmental outcomes, and national food security, requiring practical implementation skills.

  • Economic analysis ignores environmental concerns

    Modern agricultural economics integrates environmental valuation, ecosystem services, climate change impacts, and sustainability into economic decision-making frameworks.

  • Agricultural economists only work in government

    Agricultural economists work across diverse sectors including private agribusiness, financial institutions, international organizations, NGOs, research institutions, and consulting firms.

  • Food insecurity is caused only by production shortages

    Food insecurity is primarily caused by economic factors including poverty, distribution systems, market access, and policy failures, not just production capacity.

Further reading

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