Agriculture

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Rural Development is a degree programme that combines agricultural economics with rural development principles to prepare graduates for the agricultural and rural development sector. The programme is offered at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, preparing graduates for careers in agricultural economics, rural development, policy analysis and community development.

The curriculum covers agricultural economics, rural development, production economics, agricultural policy, quantitative methods, farm management, rural sociology, community development, agricultural marketing, agricultural finance, econometrics, project management, research methods and agricultural development. Students develop competencies in economic analysis and rural development planning.

Throughout the programme, students engage in lectures, case studies, field visits to rural communities, industrial attachment and research projects. The practical approach ensures graduates can analyse agricultural markets, evaluate rural development policies, design community development programmes and conduct economic research.

The programme emphasises the critical role of agricultural economics in rural transformation, where evidence-based policy and community engagement are essential for sustainable development. Students learn about rural livelihoods, agricultural value chains, community participation and the economic factors shaping rural development in Kenya.

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

Career opportunities exist in government ministries, county governments, research institutions, NGOs, development agencies, agribusiness companies and consulting firms. Graduates work as agricultural economists, rural development officers, policy analysts, project coordinators and community development specialists across the agricultural and development 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
Rural Development
Production Economics
Agricultural Policy
Quantitative Methods
Farm Management
Rural Sociology
Community Development
Agricultural Marketing
Agricultural Finance

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.
Rural Development and Sociology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Rural development theory, rural sociology, community structures and development challenges.
Information Technology Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Computer applications, data processing, and digital literacy for academic and professional use.
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, data collection, and analysis techniques.
Quantitative Methods and Statistics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative analysis, statistical methods and mathematical economics for agriculture.
Community Development and Participation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Community development strategies, participatory approaches and rural livelihoods 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 Marketing and Finance
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Agricultural marketing systems, agricultural finance, credit systems and investment appraisal.
Research Methods and Development Project
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research design, data collection and a project applying agricultural economics and rural development principles.
Agricultural Policy and Econometrics
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Agricultural Policy and Econometrics: Agricultural policy frameworks, econometric methods and economic forecasting. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant ski...

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.
Rural Development and Community Development
Specialisation in rural livelihoods, community participation, participatory rural appraisal and development planning.
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 rural development data using statistical software, studying rural sociology and community development, evaluating agricultural policies and working on research projects in rural communities.

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

Public226k to 372k

226k at JKUAT372k 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

JKUAT 225,576/yr (tuko.co.ke), UoN ~372K/yr (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

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.
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)
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 JKUAT under the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

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, rural development officers, policy analysts and project coordinators in government ministries, county governments, research institutions, NGOs and development agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet for economic analysis, cost-benefit analysis and rural development planning.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for agricultural economics and rural development research.
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 and rural development data visualisation.
EViews
Software
Econometric analysis software for time series and forecasting.
ArcGIS
Software
GIS software for rural development mapping and analysis.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural economics and rural development is just about farming.
The programme covers rural sociology, community development, policy analysis, econometrics and agricultural development.
Graduates only work in rural areas.
Graduates work in government ministries, county governments, research institutions, NGOs, development agencies and consulting firms.
Rural development has limited career prospects.
Rural development is a priority area in Kenya's development agenda, creating demand for professionals in government, NGOs and private sector.
The programme is less rigorous than other economics degrees.
The programme covers the same economic fundamentals with additional specialisation in rural development and community engagement.