Agriculture

Diploma in Agricultural Entrepreneurship

The Diploma in Agricultural Entrepreneurship is a programme that equips students with skills to identify, develop and manage agricultural business opportunities. Offered at South Eastern Kenya University through the School of Agriculture, Environment, Water and Natural Resources, the programme combines agricultural knowledge with entrepreneurial and business management skills.

The curriculum covers agricultural entrepreneurship, business opportunity identification, farm business management, agricultural marketing, agricultural finance and credit, value addition and agro-processing, supply chain management, crop production, animal production, agricultural economics, innovation in agriculture, business planning, research methods, computer applications and project management. Students develop both agricultural production knowledge and enterprise development skills.

Kenya's agricultural sector offers significant entrepreneurial opportunities in value addition, agro-processing, input supply, agricultural services and market linkages. The programme responds to the need for agricultural entrepreneurs who can create jobs, add value to agricultural products and contribute to food security and rural development in semi-arid regions and across Kenya.

The programme is delivered through lectures, case studies, field visits to agricultural enterprises, practical sessions and industrial attachment. Students gain hands-on experience in business planning, market research, farm enterprise analysis and agricultural value chain assessment through field visits and attachment at agricultural organisations.

Graduates pursue careers as agricultural entrepreneurs, agribusiness officers, farm enterprise managers, agricultural extension officers, value addition specialists, agricultural project officers and supply chain coordinators in agricultural companies, cooperatives, NGOs, county governments and self-employment. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management or related degree programmes.

Prospective students should have an interest in agriculture and business, with a desire to create and manage agricultural enterprises. The programme is suitable for students seeking practical skills for agricultural entrepreneurship and rural development.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 75,000
Private, up to: Ksh 72,900
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: Diploma

What you study

8 subjects

Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Opportunity Identification
Farm Business Management and Agricultural Finance
Agricultural Marketing and Value Addition
Crop and Animal Production
Agricultural Economics and Supply Chain Management
Innovation in Agriculture and Agro-processing
Business Planning and Research Methods
Computer Applications and Project Management

Modules

8 in the programme

Agricultural Entrepreneurship Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers entrepreneurship principles, opportunity identification in agriculture, agricultural enterprise types, innovation in agriculture and the role of entrepreneurship in agricultural development.
Crop and Animal Production for Entrepreneurs
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers crop production principles, drought-resistant crops, livestock production, poultry, beekeeping and production systems suitable for agribusiness enterprises.
Farm Business Management and Agricultural Finance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers farm business planning, cost analysis, budgeting, record keeping, agricultural credit, microfinance and financial management for agricultural enterprises.
Value Addition and Agro-processing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers value addition principles, post-harvest handling, food processing, packaging, quality standards, food safety and enterprise opportunities in agro-processing.
Agricultural Marketing and Supply Chain Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers agricultural marketing, market research, pricing strategies, distribution channels, supply chain management, market linkages and agricultural trade.
Business Planning and Innovation in Agriculture
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers business plan development, feasibility analysis, agricultural innovation, technology adoption, risk management and scaling agricultural enterprises.
Research Methods and Project Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research methodology, data collection, project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation for agricultural projects.
Industrial Attachment and Entrepreneurship Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
A three-month industrial attachment at an agricultural enterprise, assessed through an attachment report and a practical agricultural entrepreneurship project.

Specialisations

Agro-processing and Value Addition
Focuses on food processing, packaging, quality standards and value addition enterprises for careers in agro-processing.
Dryland Agriculture Enterprises
Specialises in drought-resistant crops, water-efficient farming and enterprises suited to arid and semi-arid regions.
Agricultural Input Supply
Focuses on seed production, fertiliser supply, agricultural inputs and service provision businesses.
Agricultural Marketing and Trade
Specialises in agricultural marketing, market linkages, commodity trade and supply chain management.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on agricultural entrepreneurship or farm business management, followed by a case study on value addition opportunities in the local agricultural sector. Afternoon sessions may include a field visit to a successful agricultural enterprise, a group project developing a business plan for an agro-processing venture, or a practical session on crop production techniques suitable for semi-arid regions. Students also work on market research and financial projection assignments.

The trade offs

In its favour

The programme specifically focuses on entrepreneurship, equipping graduates to create their own agricultural businesses rather than seeking employment only.
SEKU's location in a semi-arid region provides unique insights into drought-resistant agriculture and enterprises suited to arid and semi-arid lands.
The programme is affordable at KES 72,000/year, with HELB loans and SEKU's own student loan and bursary scheme available.

Against it

Agricultural enterprises face risks from weather variability, pests, market fluctuations and climate change, requiring strong risk management skills.
Starting an agricultural business requires patience, as returns may take time to materialise, especially in semi-arid regions with unpredictable rainfall.

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

Public30k to 75k

30k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology75k at Meru University of Science and Technology TVET

Private73k to 73k

73k at Rift Valley Institute of Business Studies73k at Rift Valley Institute of Business Studies

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

MMUST 30K, SEKU 66K, Meru 75K/yr (mmust.ac.ke, eafinder.com). RVIBS 73K/yr (nyongesasande.com)

Students can access HELB loans and the SEKU Student Loan and Bursary Scheme for financial support.

Funding options

HELB Loan
SEKU Student Loan and Bursary Scheme

Scholarships

2 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised institutions
SEKU Student Loan and Bursary Scheme
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
SEKU students demonstrating financial need

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade D+ with a craft certificate in agriculture or a related field from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering entrepreneurship fundamentals, crop and animal production and farm business management.
Case Studies and Field Reports
Practicum40% of the mark
Assessment of case study analyses, field visit reports to agricultural enterprises and practical exercises in value addition.
Business Plan Project
Project50% of the mark
A comprehensive business plan for an agricultural enterprise, assessed through a written document and oral presentation.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at an agricultural enterprise or organisation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the TVET Authority (TVETA). The programme is offered at SEKU's School of Agriculture, Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

Accredited by

TVET Authority
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the TVET Authority (TVETA). The programme is offered at SEKU's School of Agriculture, Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Agricultural Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 200,000
Starts and operates agricultural businesses including farming enterprises, agro-processing ventures, input supply businesses and agricultural service companies.
Agribusiness Officer
Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 110,000
Supports agricultural business development, provides enterprise advisory services and manages agribusiness programmes in organisations.
Farm Enterprise Manager
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Manages commercial farm operations, production planning, financial management and marketing for agricultural enterprises.
Value Addition Specialist
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Develops and manages value addition processes for agricultural products, including processing, packaging and quality assurance.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as agricultural entrepreneurs, agribusiness officers and farm enterprise managers in agricultural companies, cooperatives, NGOs and county governments.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

TVET Authority — Programme Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural entrepreneurship is only for people from farming families.
Agricultural entrepreneurship is open to anyone with an interest in the agricultural sector, including value addition, agro-processing, input supply, agricultural services and market linkages.
You need a lot of capital to start an agricultural business.
Many agricultural enterprises can be started with minimal capital, including value addition, service provision, seed production and nursery management. The programme teaches how to start small and scale up.
Agriculture in semi-arid areas is not viable.
SEKU is located in a semi-arid region and the programme specifically addresses drought-resistant crops, water-efficient farming and enterprises suited to arid and semi-arid lands.
A diploma in agricultural entrepreneurship is the same as general agriculture.
While covering agricultural production, the programme has a strong focus on business skills, opportunity identification, enterprise development and value addition, preparing graduates specifically for entrepreneurial roles.