Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Dryland Agriculture and Resource Management

The Doctor of Philosophy in Dryland Agriculture and Resource Management is a postgraduate research programme offered at Egerton University through the Faculty of Agriculture and the Graduate School. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on agricultural production and natural resource management in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), integrating crop production, livestock systems, water management, and environmental conservation for sustainable dryland development.

Students engage with advanced dryland farming systems, resource management, soil and water conservation, climate adaptation, pastoral systems, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and laboratory research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to dryland agriculture and resource management.

Over 80% of Kenya's land area is classified as arid or semi-arid, supporting millions of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists facing recurrent droughts, land degradation, and resource conflicts. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy by training researchers who can develop integrated solutions for dryland agriculture and natural resource management.

Teaching methods include lectures, field research in ASAL areas, laboratory sessions, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to Egerton's agricultural research facilities and the CESAAM Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, dryland agriculture researchers, natural resource managers, agricultural consultants, and food security specialists in universities, KALRO, the Ministry of Agriculture, NDMA, FAO, ICRISAT, and NGOs working in ASAL development.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in agriculture, environmental science, natural resource management, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in dryland agriculture and resource management.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 474,000
Private, up to: Ksh 168,000
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: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Dryland Farming Systems
Natural Resource Management
Soil and Water Conservation
Climate Adaptation in ASALs
Pastoral Systems Research
Research Methodology
Agro-Pastoral Development
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Land Restoration

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Dryland Farming Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of dryland farming systems including crop-livestock integration, agro-pastoral systems, and sustainable production in arid environments
Dryland Crop Production Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Crop production in dryland environments, covering agricultural principles, production technologies, and their application in sustainable farming systems.
Natural Resource Management in ASALs
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Management of natural resources in dryland areas including rangeland management, water resources, biodiversity, and ecosystem services
Dryland Livestock Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Livestock management in ASALs, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Soil and Water Conservation in Drylands
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Soil conservation techniques, water harvesting, irrigation efficiency, and land management for dryland agriculture
Soil and Water Conservation in ASALs
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Conservation of soil and water in drylands, covering agricultural principles, production technologies, and their application in sustainable farming systems.
Climate Adaptation and Resilience in ASALs
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Climate change adaptation strategies for dryland agriculture including climate-resilient crops, early warning systems, and adaptation planning
Rangeland Management and Ecology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Management of rangeland ecosystems, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Systems Research
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on pastoral production systems including livestock mobility, range management, and livelihood diversification in Kenyan ASALs
Drought Resilience and Risk Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Building drought resilience, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Land Restoration and Rehabilitation
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Techniques for restoring degraded dryland ecosystems including reforestation, soil rehabilitation, and sustainable land management practices
Research Methods in Dryland Agriculture
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.

Specialisations

Seed Sales Agronomy
Specialization in Seed Sales Agronomy, preparing graduates for careers such as seed-sales-agronomist.
Agricultural Research Science
Specialization in Agricultural Research Science, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-research-scientist.
Soil Science Research
Specialization in Soil Science Research, preparing graduates for careers such as soil-scientist.
Academic Research in Agriculture
Specialization in Academic Research in Agriculture, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Agronomy Practice
Specialization in Agronomy Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as agronomist-kenya.
Agribusiness Management
Specialization in Agribusiness Management, preparing graduates for careers such as agribusiness-manager.
Water Harvesting
Research on water harvesting in drylands
Rangeland Management
Research on rangeland management
Dryland Crop Production
Research on dryland crop systems
Drought Resilience
Research on drought resilience

A day as a student

A typical day combines field research in ASAL areas with laboratory analysis of soil and water samples, data analysis on crop and resource management, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend agriculture research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KALRO and NDMA for field research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Integrates agriculture with natural resource management for holistic dryland development
Access to KALRO, NDMA and ICARDA for research
Egerton hosts CESAAM Centre of Excellence with World Bank funding
Strong institutional links with KALRO, NDMA, FAO, and ICRISAT

Against it

Field research in remote ASAL areas can be logistically challenging
Requires multidisciplinary knowledge of crops, livestock and environment
Research funding for dryland agriculture is competitive
Interdisciplinary requirements span agriculture, environment, and social science

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

Public252k to 474k

252k at Egerton University474k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 168k

150k at Mount Kenya University168k at Kenya Methodist University

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

UoN 474K (larmat.uonbi.ac.ke), Egerton 252K/yr. MKU 150K, KeMU 168K. Moi unverified.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and CESAAM scholarships for dryland agriculture research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
CESAAM Scholarship
Scholarship

Scholarships

5 recorded

CESAAM Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
MSc and PhD students at Egerton University working on sustainable agriculture
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
FAO Research Grant
Grant
Agriculture and food security researchers
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Master's Degree
MSc in Agriculture, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Environmental Science, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Egerton University hosts the World Bank-funded CESAAM Centre of Excellence.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

Food Security Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises government, FAO, and NGOs on food security and drought resilience in ASAL areas
University Lecturer (Agriculture)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches dryland agriculture and conducts research in university agriculture departments
Agricultural Research Scientist
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts dryland agriculture research at KALRO, ICRISAT, or international research institutions
Natural Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Manages natural resource programmes at NDMA, county governments, or environmental NGOs
ASAL Development Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Consulting on ASAL development
Rangeland Management Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Rangeland management at government and NGOs
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in agriculture departments
Dryland Agriculture Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research at KALRO and ICARDA

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, dryland agriculture researchers, natural resource managers, and food security specialists in universities, KALRO, NDMA, FAO, ICRISAT, and NGOs working in ASAL development.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Dryland agriculture and resource management is just about farming in dry areas
The programme integrates crop production, livestock systems, water management, soil conservation, climate adaptation, and natural resource governance for holistic dryland development.
A PhD in dryland agriculture has limited career prospects
Over 80% of Kenya's land is ASAL, creating demand for researchers at KALRO, NDMA, FAO, ICRISAT, and NGOs addressing food security and sustainable resource management in dryland areas.
Dryland resource management research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's recurrent droughts, land degradation, and resource conflicts in ASAL areas make integrated dryland agriculture and resource management research critical for national development.
ASAL areas cannot support productive agriculture
With appropriate technologies including drought-tolerant crops, water harvesting, and sustainable resource management, dryland areas can support productive and sustainable agriculture.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in dry land agriculture