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Agriculture

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics is a degree programme that applies economic principles to agricultural production, marketing and resource management. The programme is offered at Egerton University and the University of Eldoret, preparing graduates for careers in agricultural policy analysis, agribusiness management, market research and rural development.

Duration
4 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 372,000
Ksh 1,488,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 372,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,488,000 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE or above. 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 5 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

The curriculum covers agricultural economics, production economics, resource economics, agricultural policy, economic analysis, quantitative methods, farm management, agricultural marketing, agricultural finance, econometrics, agricultural development, international trade, research methods and project management. Students develop competencies in economic analysis, policy evaluation and agricultural market assessment.

Throughout the programme, students engage in lectures, case studies, field visits to agricultural enterprises, industrial attachment and research projects. The practical approach ensures graduates can analyse agricultural markets, evaluate policy impacts, manage agricultural enterprises and conduct economic research in the agricultural sector.

The programme emphasises the critical role of economics in transforming Kenya's agricultural sector, where evidence-based policy and market analysis are essential for productivity improvement and food security. Students learn about supply and demand analysis, price theory, agricultural trade, resource allocation and the economic factors shaping agricultural development.

Graduates are equipped to work in government ministries, agricultural research institutions, banks and microfinance institutions, non-governmental organisations, international development agencies, agribusiness companies and consulting firms. They play a critical role in agricultural policy formulation and economic analysis.

Career opportunities exist in government ministries, research institutions, banks, NGOs, development agencies, agribusiness companies and consulting firms. Graduates work as agricultural economists, policy analysts, market researchers, project officers and agribusiness managers across the agricultural and economic development sectors.

What you study

6 subjects
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Production Economics
  • Resource Economics
  • Agricultural Policy
  • Economic Analysis
  • Quantitative Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Principles of Agricultural Economics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Agricultural Production Economics

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

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

  • Agricultural Marketing Economics

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Economic analysis of agricultural marketing systems, price determination, and market structures.

  • Resource Economics

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Agricultural Policy Economics

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Agricultural Policy Economics: Economic analysis of agricultural policies, their impacts, and policy design. Covers economic theory, market analysis, and policy evaluation.

  • Econometrics for Agriculture

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Econometrics for Agriculture: Statistical and econometric methods applied to agricultural economics research. Covers production techniques, soil management, pest control, and yield optimisation.

  • Agricultural Development Economics

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Agricultural Finance Economics

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Economic analysis of financial systems in agriculture, including credit and investment.

  • International Agricultural Trade Economics

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Economic analysis of international agricultural trade, including trade policies and agreements.

  • Environmental Economics

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Economic analysis of environmental issues, including externalities and conservation.

  • Agricultural Project Economics

    Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore

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

  • Agricultural Economic Research Methods

    Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore

    Research design and methods for agricultural economics, including data collection and analysis.

Specialisations

  • Resource Economics

    Specialization in natural resource economics, conservation, and sustainable resource use. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

  • Development Economics

    Focus on agricultural development, rural development, and poverty reduction strategies. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

  • Agricultural Policy

    Focus on policy analysis, design, and implementation for agricultural development. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

  • General Practice

    Broad foundational knowledge covering core principles and practices in the field. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

  • Farm Management

    Specialization in Farm Management, preparing graduates for careers such as farm-manager. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

  • Agribusiness and Marketing

    Specialization in Agribusiness and Marketing, preparing graduates for careers such as agribusiness-manager.

  • Natural Resource Economics

    Specialization in Natural Resource Economics, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-economist.

  • Agricultural Finance

    Specialization in Agricultural Finance, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-economist.

  • Rural Development

    Specialization in Rural Development, preparing graduates for careers such as rural-development-officer.

A day as a student

Students attend lectures, conduct economic analysis, participate in research projects, and engage in policy analysis.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
High demand for agricultural economists in policy and agribusinessRequires strong mathematics and statistics skills
Diverse career paths in government, research and businessSome rural field work may be required
Relevant to Kenya's food security and agricultural growthEntry-level positions may require additional experience
Quantitative and analytical skills are transferableAgricultural markets can be volatile and policy-sensitive

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
Public326k to 372k
326k at Egerton University372k 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 ~372K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke), Egerton ~326K/yr (eafinder.com). Private: unverified.

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

Funding options

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating financial need.

  • Higher Education Fund (HEF)

    Government fundingKenyan

    Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKenyan

    Residents of respective counties

  • TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at Egerton University

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Students admitted to agriculture, natural resources and food science programmes at Egerton University

Scholarships you could apply for

12 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 Agricultural Economics, Economics, Agriculture, or related fields with Credit pass from recognized institutions may also apply.

When it next starts

Taught at 5 institutions
January 20275 institutions

Including University of Nairobi, Laikipia University, University of Eldoret.

May 20275 institutions

Including University of Nairobi, Laikipia University, University of Eldoret.

September 20275 institutions

Including University of Nairobi, Laikipia University, University of Eldoret.

How you are assessed

5 components

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Exam70% of the mark

    Comprehensive written examinations at the end of each semester.

  • Research Project

    Project100% of the mark

    Independent research project on agricultural economics topic.

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat30% of the mark

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

  • Economic Modeling Assessments

    Project100% of the mark

    Evaluation of economic modeling skills, data analysis, and quantitative methods.

  • Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)

    Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    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

8 roles

  • Development Economist

    Medium demandKsh 62,000 to Ksh 135,000

    Work on agricultural development projects, design economic strategies, and evaluate programmes.

  • Economic Consultant

    Medium demandKsh 68,000 to Ksh 145,000

    Provide economic consulting services to agricultural organizations and businesses.

  • Agricultural Economist

    High demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 140,000

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

  • Research Economist

    Medium demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 150,000

    Conduct economic research, publish findings, and contribute to economic knowledge.

  • Policy Analyst

    Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 130,000

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

  • Rural Development Specialist

    Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000

    Designs and implements rural development programmes

  • Agribusiness Manager

    High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Manages agribusiness enterprises and value chains

  • Market Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000

    Researches agricultural markets and consumer trends

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in agricultural economics, policy analysis, and economic research across Kenya's agricultural sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Microsoft Excel

    SoftwarePrimary

    Spreadsheet for economic analysis, cost-benefit analysis and agricultural data management.

  • SPSS

    SoftwarePrimary

    Statistical analysis software for agricultural economics research and data analysis.

  • R

    Software

    Programming language for econometric analysis and statistical modelling.

  • STATA

    Software

    Econometrics software for agricultural economics research and policy analysis.

  • Power BI

    Software

    Business analytics tool for agricultural data visualisation and dashboards.

  • QuickBooks

    Accounting

    Agribusiness accounting.

  • SAP Agricultural Contract Management

    Erp

    Agricultural contract and supply management.

  • QGIS

    Analytics

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Agricultural economics is just about farming

    Agricultural economics encompasses the entire food system from production to processing, marketing, trade, policy, and consumption. It's a broad field applying economic principles to complex agricultural systems.

  • Economic life is a zero-sum game

    Trade and economic exchange create value. When middlemen prosper, it's not necessarily exploitation but often reflects value creation through efficient distribution and risk management.

  • Price can be set at any level without effect on supply and demand

    Prices signal scarcity and value. Setting prices artificially high or low affects production decisions, consumption patterns, and market efficiency. Supply and demand curves matter.

  • What works for individual farmers works for all farmers

    The fallacy of composition: if all farmers adopt the same profitable practice, increased supply can lower prices and eliminate the anticipated profits. Individual success doesn't guarantee collective success.

  • Agriculture is the sole driver of development

    While agriculture is important, development is multi-sectoral. Overstating agriculture's role can lead to neglecting other crucial sectors and inappropriate policy advice.

  • African farmers don't use modern inputs

    Modern input use varies widely across Africa and is increasing in many areas. Generalizations about low input use may not reflect the diverse reality of African agriculture.

Further reading

Read next