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.

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.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 433,500
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 8 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: Masters

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 favour

High demand for agricultural economists due to growing focus on food security and sustainable agriculture.
Diverse career opportunities in government, NGOs, private sector, and international organizations.
Combines economics with agriculture, offering unique skill set for addressing development challenges.

Against it

Policy work can be bureaucratic and slow to implement changes.
Fieldwork in rural areas may require extended travel and basic living conditions.

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.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE
Alternative entry: Diploma holders in Agriculture, Economics, or related fields with Credit pass from recognized institutions may also apply.

Mathematics
C+
Biology/Chemistry
C+
Economics/Commerce/Business Studies
C
English/Kiswahili
C

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

Accredited by Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya.

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.