Agriculture

Diploma in Tea Husbandry and Management

The Diploma in Tea Husbandry and Management is a programme that imparts knowledge and skills to learners on tea husbandry and management. Offered at Karatina University through the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, the programme targets personnel working in the tea industry and holders of KCSE certificate who want to specialise in tea production and management.

The curriculum covers tea propagation and nursery management, tea agronomy, soil fertility and nutrition in tea production, tea pest and disease management, tea plucking and field management, tea post-harvest handling, tea quality assurance, tea estate management, tea industry economics, research methods and industrial attachment. Students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in tea husbandry and estate management.

Kenya is one of the world's leading tea producers and tea is a major export crop. The programme responds to the need for trained personnel who can apply modern tea husbandry practices, manage tea estates and support the tea value chain from production to quality assurance.

The programme is delivered through lectures, field practicals, laboratory sessions, estate visits, case studies, group projects and a two-month industrial attachment. Students gain hands-on experience through field work in tea nurseries and estates, and supervised industrial attachment in tea factories or estates.

Graduates pursue careers as tea estate supervisors, tea nursery managers, tea field officers, tea quality assistants and tea extension officers in tea companies, estates and processing factories. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture or related degree programmes.

Prospective students should have interest in agriculture, tea production and estate management. The programme is suitable for students seeking careers in Kenya's tea industry, including personnel already working in the sector who want to upgrade their qualifications.

Duration: 2 years
Job market: Low

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Weekend, Evening
Attachment: 2 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

7 subjects

Tea Propagation and Nursery Management
Tea Agronomy and Soil Fertility
Tea Pest and Disease Management
Tea Plucking and Field Management
Tea Post-Harvest Handling and Quality Assurance
Tea Estate Management and Tea Industry Economics
Research Methods and Industrial Attachment

Modules

7 in the programme

Tea Propagation and Nursery Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers tea propagation methods, nursery establishment, nursery management, clone selection, vegetative propagation, seedling management and nursery best practices.
Tea Agronomy and Soil Fertility
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers tea agronomy, tea planting, field establishment, pruning, plucking cycles, soil fertility, fertiliser application, soil conservation and nutrient management in tea.
Tea Pest and Disease Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers tea pests, tea diseases, pest identification, disease diagnosis, integrated pest management, pesticide use, biological control and pest surveillance in tea.
Tea Plucking and Field Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers tea plucking standards, plucking rounds, plucker management, field maintenance, weed control, shade management and field operations planning.
Tea Post-Harvest Handling and Quality Assurance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers tea post-harvest handling, withering, rolling, fermentation, drying, sorting, grading, quality standards, quality testing and tea certification.
Tea Estate Management and Tea Industry Economics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers tea estate management, labour management, estate operations, tea industry economics, tea markets, tea pricing, tea value addition and the Kenyan tea value chain.
Research Methods and Industrial Attachment
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Covers research methods and a two-month industrial attachment in a tea estate, factory or tea company, assessed through an attachment report and supervisor evaluation.

Specialisations

Tea Nursery Management
Focuses on tea propagation and nursery operations for careers as tea nursery managers.
Tea Estate Management
Specialises in estate operations and labour management for careers as tea estate supervisors.
Tea Quality Assurance
Focuses on post-harvest handling and quality control for careers as tea quality assistants.
Tea Extension
Specialises in technical support and advisory services for careers as tea field officers.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on tea agronomy or soil fertility, followed by a field practical in the tea nursery or estate. Afternoon sessions may include a laboratory session on tea quality, a visit to a tea factory, or preparation for industrial attachment. Students also work on tea husbandry projects and research assignments.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya is a leading global tea producer, ensuring industry relevance.
The programme includes a two-month industrial attachment for practical experience.
Graduates can progress to a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

Against it

The programme is offered at only one university, limiting study options.
Career opportunities are specific to the tea industry, which is geographically limited.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

The fine print

New programme at Karatina Univ (launched Nov 2024); fee structure not yet published.

Students can access HELB loans. Public university students may access government funding through the new funding model. Tea companies may sponsor their employees for this programme.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised institutions

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: O-Level Division III with Pass in Physics or Mathematics and any two science subjects, or Certificate in Agriculture or related fields.

Mathematics or Physics
D+
Any two of: Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physical Science, Home Science, Geography
C-

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering tea propagation, agronomy, pest management and field management.
Practical Assessments
Practicum30% of the mark
Assessment of practical skills in tea nurseries, field operations, pest identification and soil management.
Tea Husbandry Project
Project40% of the mark
A tea husbandry project, assessed through a written report and presentation.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during two-month industrial attachment in a tea estate or factory.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Karatina University, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Karatina University, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Tea Estate Supervisor
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 170,000
Supervises tea estate operations, manages field workers, oversees plucking and field maintenance and ensures tea quality standards in tea estates.
Tea Nursery Manager
Low demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 160,000
Manages tea nurseries, oversees propagation, monitors seedling health, manages nursery operations and supplies tea seedlings to estates.
Tea Field Officer
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 165,000
Provides technical support to tea growers, monitors field operations, advises on agronomic practices and supports extension services in tea companies.
Tea Quality Assistant
Low demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 155,000
Assists with tea quality testing, monitors post-harvest processes, supports quality assurance and ensures compliance with tea quality standards in factories.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as tea estate supervisors, tea nursery managers, tea field officers and tea quality assistants in tea companies, estates and processing factories.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Tea husbandry is just about picking tea leaves.
Tea husbandry involves propagation, agronomy, soil management, pest control, post-harvest handling, quality assurance and estate management, covering the full tea production cycle.
A diploma in tea husbandry has limited career prospects.
Kenya is a leading tea producer, and the industry employs thousands. Graduates can work in estates, factories and tea companies, and can progress to a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
Tea husbandry is only for people from tea-growing regions.
The programme is open to all qualified students regardless of their region of origin. Tea companies operate across multiple counties.
Tea husbandry is outdated and has no modern techniques.
Modern tea husbandry involves improved propagation methods, precision agriculture, sustainable pest management and quality assurance standards that the programme covers.