Agriculture

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Resource Management

The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Resource Management is a degree programme that applies economic principles to agricultural production and natural resource management. The programme is offered at multiple public universities across Kenya including Moi University, Kenyatta University, University of Kabianga, Maasai Mara University, Rongo University, Kibabii University, Kaimosi Friends University and Turkana University College, preparing graduates for careers in agricultural economics, resource management and rural development.

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

Throughout the programme, students engage in lectures, case studies, field visits to agricultural and natural resource sites, industrial attachment and research projects. The practical approach ensures graduates can analyse agricultural markets, evaluate resource management policies and conduct economic research in the agricultural sector.

The programme emphasises the sustainable management of agricultural and natural resources in Kenya, where economic analysis is essential for balancing productivity with environmental conservation. Students learn about resource allocation, agricultural trade, environmental valuation and the economic factors shaping rural development.

Graduates are equipped to work in government ministries, agricultural research institutions, environmental agencies, banks, non-governmental organisations, international development agencies and consulting firms. They play a critical role in agricultural policy formulation and resource management.

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

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 372,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Agricultural Economics
Resource Management
Production Economics
Agricultural Policy
Quantitative Methods
Farm Management
Natural Resource Management
Agricultural Marketing
Agricultural Finance
Econometrics

Modules

12 in the programme

Agricultural Economics Principles
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Economic principles applied to agriculture, supply and demand, and agricultural market theory.
Foundations of the Discipline
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundations of the Discipline: Introduction to core concepts, theories, and principles of the field. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Communication Skills: Academic writing, presentation skills, and professional communication. Develops practical skills for academic and professional contexts.
Resource Management and Environmental Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Natural resource management, environmental economics, resource allocation and sustainability.
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, data collection, and analysis techniques.
Information Technology Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Computer applications, data processing, and digital literacy for academic and professional use.
Quantitative Methods and Statistics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative analysis, statistical methods and mathematical economics for agriculture.
Agricultural Marketing and Price Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Agricultural marketing systems, price theory, market structure and price analysis.
Production Economics and Farm Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Production Economics and Farm Management: Production theory, cost analysis, farm management and enterprise optimisation. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational conte...
Agricultural Finance and Econometrics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Agricultural finance, credit systems, econometric methods and economic forecasting.
Agricultural Policy and International Trade
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Agricultural policy frameworks, international trade theory and agricultural trade analysis.
Research Methods and Economics Project
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research design, data collection and a project applying agricultural economics and resource management principles.

Specialisations

Agricultural Production Economics
Focus on production efficiency, cost analysis and optimisation of agricultural enterprises. 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.
Natural Resource Management
Specialisation in natural resource valuation, conservation economics and sustainable resource management.
Agricultural Policy and Trade
Focus on agricultural policy analysis, international trade and market integration. 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 Finance and Investment
Specialisation in agricultural lending, investment appraisal and financial management. 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.
Research and Analysis
Focus on research methods, data analysis, and evidence-based decision making. 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.
Research and Analysis
Focus on research methods, data analysis, and evidence-based decision making. 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.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending agricultural economics lectures, analysing resource management data using statistical software, studying environmental economics, evaluating agricultural policies and working on research projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).
Graduates are eligible for HELB loans and government funding.

Against it

Limited programme specialisation options may be available.
Competitive job market requiring practical experience and networking.

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

Egerton ~326K/yr, UoN ~372K/yr (eafinder.com, uonbi.ac.ke). Private: unverified.

Government scholarships cover up to 53% of tuition for needy students. HELB provides loans up to Ksh 60,000. DAAD offers scholarships for agricultural and economics students.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)
DAAD Scholarship

Scholarships

4 recorded

TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at Egerton University
ScholarshipKenyan
Students admitted to agriculture, natural resources and food science programmes at Egerton University
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
Kenyan students from respective counties demonstrating financial need.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KCSE C+ (Plus) OR A Level with two principal passes; OR a relevant Diploma from a recognised institution; OR any other qualification recognised by the university senate and CUE.

How you are assessed

2 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, assignments, and practical exercises throughout the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the semester.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at multiple public universities across Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Graduate Trainee
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 60,000
Entry-level position applying academic knowledge in a professional environment.
Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 65,000
Supporting research projects through data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Project Officer
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 80,000
Coordinating and implementing projects in public, private, or NGO sectors.
Analyst
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 90,000
Analysing data, trends, and patterns to support decision-making.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as agricultural economists, resource managers, policy analysts and project officers in government ministries, research institutions, banks, NGOs and consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet for economic analysis, cost-benefit analysis and resource management planning.
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 and policy analysis.
Power BI
Software
Business analytics tool for agricultural data visualisation and dashboards.
EViews
Software
Econometric analysis software for time series and forecasting.
ArcGIS
Software
GIS software for natural resource mapping and analysis.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural economics is just about farming.
The programme covers resource management, environmental economics, policy analysis, econometrics and international trade.
Graduates only work in agriculture.
Graduates work in government ministries, banks, research institutions, environmental agencies, NGOs and consulting firms.
Resource management has limited career prospects.
Natural resource management is a growing field with demand in government, NGOs and private sector.
Agricultural economics is less rigorous than other economics programmes.
The programme covers the same economic fundamentals with additional specialisation in agricultural and resource applications.