Agriculture

Craft Certificate in General Agriculture

The Craft Certificate in General Agriculture is a two-year programme examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and offered at technical and vocational training institutions and agricultural colleges across Kenya. It equips students with practical skills in crop production, animal husbandry, soil science, and farm management. The programme is accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) under the TVET Act, 2013.

Module I covers entrepreneurship and communication skills, science and technical drawing, principles of crop production, soil science, and animal production. Students learn foundational agricultural sciences, plant and animal biology, and basic farm management principles. Module II advances to agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, agricultural extension, and farm management.

The programme combines theory with extensive practical training on college farms and agricultural enterprises. Students gain hands-on experience in crop cultivation, livestock management, soil analysis, and farm machinery operation. The Kenya School of Agriculture and institutions like Kabete National Polytechnic are among the key providers.

Entry requirements are a KCSE mean grade of D (plain) or a pass in a relevant Artisan Certificate. The programme is designed to prepare trainees for both formal employment and self-employment in agricultural enterprises.

Graduates pursue careers as farm assistants, agricultural extension assistants, agrovet attendants, and agricultural project assistants in farms, agricultural companies, NGOs, and government agricultural departments. The programme provides a progression pathway to a Diploma in General Agriculture and subsequently to a degree in agriculture or related fields.

The programme includes practical attachments on farms and agricultural enterprises. Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding, and HELB loans are available for eligible students. The standardised annual tuition fee at public TVET institutions is KES 67,189.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Certificate

What you study

10 subjects

Principles of Crop Production
Soil Science
Animal Production
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Extension
Farm Management
Entrepreneurship
Science and Technical Drawing
Communication Skills

Modules

10 in the programme

Entrepreneurship and Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Entrepreneurship principles and communication skills for agricultural enterprise management.
Science and Technical Drawing
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Basic sciences and technical drawing relevant to agricultural engineering and farm structures.
Principles of Crop Production
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamental principles of crop production including planting, cultivation, and harvesting.
Soil Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Soil properties, fertility management, soil conservation, and composting techniques.
Animal Production
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Livestock production principles including feeding, breeding, health, and housing.
Farm Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Farm planning, budgeting, record-keeping, and resource allocation for agricultural enterprises.
Agricultural Economics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Economic principles applied to agricultural production, marketing, and pricing.
Agricultural Engineering
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Farm machinery operation, maintenance, irrigation systems, and farm structures.
Agricultural Extension
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Principles and methods of agricultural extension and farmer advisory services.
Trade Project
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical agricultural project demonstrating integrated crop and livestock production competencies.

Specialisations

Crop Production
Focus on field crop production, horticulture, and crop protection.
Livestock Production
Specialisation in dairy, poultry, and small livestock management.
Soil and Water Management
Focus on soil conservation, irrigation, and water management.
Farm Machinery
Specialisation in agricultural machinery operation and maintenance.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on crop science or animal production with afternoon practical sessions on the college farm, where students practise planting, soil preparation, livestock handling, and farm machinery operation.

The trade offs

In its favour

Agriculture is Kenya's backbone with growing opportunities in agribusiness and value addition.
Low entry requirements make it accessible to a wide range of students.
Practical training on college farms provides hands-on agricultural skills.

Against it

Entry-level salaries may be modest compared to other sectors.
Agricultural work is physically demanding and may require rural postings.
Subject to weather and climate variability affecting farm productivity.

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

Public67k to 67k

67k at Thika Technical Training Institute67k at Friends College Kaimosi

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

Public TVET 67K/yr (jitimu.com Thika TTI, Kaimosi). Private: unverified.

Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding. HELB loans of up to KES 45,000 per year are available for eligible TVET certificate students.

Funding options

HELB Loan
KUCCPS Government Capitation
County Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB TVET Loan
LoanKsh 45,000Kenyan
Kenyan students placed by KUCCPS in accredited TVET institutions.
KUCCPS Government Capitation
SubsidyKsh 30,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored students placed by KUCCPS receive capitation funding.
County Bursary
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Various county governments offer bursaries for TVET students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: D
Alternative entry: Pass in a relevant Artisan Certificate in agriculture or equivalent qualification approved by KNEC.

How you are assessed

3 components

End of Module KNEC Examinations
Written examination60% of the mark
KNEC-administered examinations covering theory and technical knowledge.
Practical Farm Assessments
Practical assessment30% of the mark
Practical assessments on college farms evaluating crop and livestock management competencies.
Trade Project
Project10% of the mark
Final agricultural project demonstrating integrated farming competencies.

Accreditation

Examined by KNEC and accredited by TVETA under the TVET Act, 2013. Institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Accredited by

Kenya National Examinations Council
AcademicRequired
Examined by KNEC. Institutions must be TVETA-accredited to offer this programme.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
InstitutionalRequired
All TVET institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Farm Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 240,000 to Ksh 420,000
Assists in daily farm operations including crop and livestock management on commercial farms.
Agricultural Extension Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 480,000
Supports extension officers in delivering agricultural advisory services to farmers.
Agrovet Attendant
High demandKsh 240,000 to Ksh 420,000
Works in agricultural input supply stores advising farmers on seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides.
Agricultural Project Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 540,000
Assists in implementing agricultural projects for NGOs and development organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment as farm assistants and agricultural extension assistants, with opportunities in farms, agribusiness companies, and government agricultural departments.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Farm Machinery (Tractors, Planters)
EquipmentPrimary
Soil Testing Kit
Equipment

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agriculture is only for those who cannot get other jobs.
Agriculture is Kenya's backbone, contributing significantly to GDP, with growing opportunities in agribusiness, value addition, and export markets.
A certificate in agriculture limits you to subsistence farming.
Graduates work in commercial farms, agribusiness companies, research institutions, and government, with clear progression to diploma and degree levels.
Agricultural training is outdated and irrelevant.
Modern agricultural training incorporates technology, climate-smart practices, and market-oriented production methods.
You need land to benefit from agricultural training.
Graduates work in diverse roles including extension services, agrovet management, quality control, and agricultural finance without owning land.