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.

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.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 372,000
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: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

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 favour

High demand for agricultural economists in policy and agribusiness
Diverse career paths in government, research and business
Relevant to Kenya's food security and agricultural growth
Quantitative and analytical skills are transferable

Against it

Requires strong mathematics and statistics skills
Some rural field work may be required
Entry-level positions may require additional experience
Agricultural 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

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

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

Accredited by Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

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

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