Agriculture

International Master in Farm Management

The International Master in Farm Management at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) is a two-year postgraduate programme designed to develop advanced farm management specialists equipped for the complexities of modern agricultural enterprise management. Offered by the School of Agriculture and Food Science, the programme addresses the growing demand for skilled agricultural managers in Kenya and across East Africa.

The programme combines theoretical foundations with practical applications in farm business management, production economics, and agricultural planning. Students engage with contemporary farm management paradigms through modules covering business informatics, farm controlling, and international agricultural marketing strategies.

A distinctive feature is the emphasis on application-oriented study, incorporating project studies and computer-aided business simulations. This approach ensures students develop practical problem-solving abilities in team-based settings, using real-world case studies and international organisational and cost comparisons.

The curriculum includes specialisation tracks in strategic management consulting, technical and economic consulting in agricultural mechanisation, and research and development. These specialisations allow students to tailor their studies to specific career paths within the agricultural sector.

A practical training component and agribusiness internship ensure graduates gain hands-on experience in farm operations and agricultural enterprise management. The programme also includes a master's thesis, enabling students to conduct original research in farm management.

Graduates are prepared for roles spanning farm management, agricultural consulting, agribusiness management, and agricultural research. The programme's accreditation by the Commission for University Education ensures recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region.

Skills Required

Farm Business Management
Production Economics
Farm Planning and Controlling
Agricultural Marketing Strategies
Business Informatics in Agriculture
Strategic Management Consulting
Agricultural Policy Analysis
Project Planning and Evaluation
Research Methods in Agriculture
International Agricultural Trade

Key Subjects

Business Management in Agriculture
Production Economics in Agriculture
Farm Management and Controlling
Business Informatics with Empirical Social Research
Farm Planning
Agricultural Policy
International Agricultural Marketing Strategies
Project Planning and Project Evaluation
Farming Systems Research
Agricultural Cooperatives

Certifications

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization Membership
Agricultural Society of Kenya Membership

Specializations

Strategic Management Consulting in Agriculture

Focuses on providing strategic management advice to agricultural enterprises, including farm management consulting and specialisation-specific projects.

Technical and Economic Consulting in Agricultural Mechanisation

Combines technical knowledge of agricultural machinery with economic analysis to advise on mechanisation investments and efficiency improvements.

Research and Development in Agriculture

Develops skills in applied research and development projects, preparing graduates for roles in agricultural research institutions and innovation-driven enterprises.

International Agricultural Marketing

Covers strategies for marketing agricultural products in international markets, including trade regulations and cross-border supply chain management.

Farm Planning and Controlling

Focuses on farm-level planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring using modern management tools and techniques.

Agribusiness Management

Integrates business management principles with agricultural production, covering value chain management and enterprise development.

Agricultural Policy Analysis

Equips students with skills to analyse and evaluate agricultural policies affecting farm management decisions at national and international levels.

Production Economics in Agriculture

Applies economic principles to agricultural production decisions, including resource allocation, cost optimisation, and output maximisation.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 433,500
Job market: High

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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Business Management in Agriculture
Production Economics in Agriculture
Farm Management and Controlling
Business Informatics with Empirical Social Research
Farm Planning
Agricultural Policy
International Agricultural Marketing Strategies
Project Planning and Project Evaluation
Farming Systems Research
Agricultural Cooperatives

Modules

12 in the programme

Business Management in Agriculture
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers fundamental principles of business management applied to agricultural enterprises, including organisational structures and strategic planning.
Production Economics in Agriculture
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Applies economic principles to agricultural production decisions, covering resource allocation, cost optimisation, and input-output analysis.
Farm Planning
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Develops skills in farm-level planning, including land use planning, crop and livestock enterprise planning, and investment appraisal.
Farm Management and Controlling
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers farm financial management, performance monitoring, budgeting, and controlling techniques for agricultural enterprises.
Business Informatics with Empirical Social Research
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Integrates information technology tools with empirical research methods for data-driven farm management decisions.
Agricultural Policy Seminar
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Examines national and international agricultural policies, their formulation, implementation, and impact on farm management decisions.
International Agricultural Marketing Strategies
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Covers strategies for marketing agricultural products in international markets, including trade regulations and market analysis.
Farming Systems Research and Agricultural Cooperatives
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Explores farming systems research methodologies and the role of agricultural cooperatives in farm management and marketing.
Strategic Management Consulting in Agriculture
Year 2Semester 14 creditsElective
Develops consulting skills for advising agricultural enterprises on strategic management, including farm management consulting methods.
Project Planning and Project Evaluation
Year 2Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers project planning methodologies and evaluation techniques for agricultural development projects and farm investments.
Agribusiness Internship
Year 2Semester 24 creditsCore
Practical attachment at an agricultural enterprise or agribusiness organisation, applying theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting.
Master's Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original research project investigating a farm management issue, demonstrating analytical capability and research competence in agricultural management.

Specialisations

Strategic Management Consulting in Agriculture
Focuses on providing strategic management advice to agricultural enterprises, including farm management consulting and specialisation-specific projects.
Technical and Economic Consulting in Agricultural Mechanisation
Combines technical knowledge of agricultural machinery with economic analysis to advise on mechanisation investments and efficiency improvements.
Research and Development in Agriculture
Develops skills in applied research and development projects, preparing graduates for roles in agricultural research institutions and innovation-driven enterprises.
International Agricultural Marketing
Covers strategies for marketing agricultural products in international markets, including trade regulations and cross-border supply chain management.
Farm Planning and Controlling
Focuses on farm-level planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring using modern management tools and techniques.
Agribusiness Management
Integrates business management principles with agricultural production, covering value chain management and enterprise development.
Agricultural Policy Analysis
Equips students with skills to analyse and evaluate agricultural policies affecting farm management decisions at national and international levels.
Production Economics in Agriculture
Applies economic principles to agricultural production decisions, including resource allocation, cost optimisation, and output maximisation.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on farm business management, production economics, or agricultural marketing at the School of Agriculture and Food Science campus in Siaya. Students participate in computer-aided business simulations, work on project studies in teams, and engage in case study analysis using international farm management examples. Research-focused students may spend time in the library or computer labs working on their master's thesis, whilst others may be on practical attachment at agricultural enterprises.

The trade offs

In its favour

International focus prepares graduates for global agricultural markets and cross-border trade opportunities.
Practical training component and agribusiness internship ensure hands-on experience in real agricultural enterprises.
Specialisation tracks allow students to tailor studies to specific career paths in consulting, mechanisation, or research.
CUE accreditation ensures recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region.

Against it

Only one institution in Kenya offers this exact programme, limiting choice and geographic accessibility.
JOOUST website fee structure PDF was inaccessible during research, requiring direct university contact for fee confirmation.
Programme requires a background in agricultural sciences or related fields, limiting access for those from other disciplines.
Rural campus location in Bondo, Siaya County may pose logistical challenges for students preferring urban settings.

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

Public110k to 434k

110k at Rongo University434k 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

UoN ~433.5K/yr (Faculty of Agriculture, uonbi.ac.ke). Rongo 110K/yr (eafinder.com). Private unverified.

Funding options include HELB postgraduate loans for Kenyan students, JOOUST postgraduate bursaries for demonstrated financial need, and the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme for academically talented Africans.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
JOOUST Postgraduate Bursary
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
Academically talented young Africans facing economic, social, or institutional barriers.
JOOUST Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 50,000Kenyan
Postgraduate students demonstrating financial need at JOOUST.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Holders of a Second Class Honours (Lower Division) degree with at least two years of relevant work or research experience in agriculture or a related field may be considered. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of crop and livestock production technology.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs and assignments conducted throughout each semester to evaluate ongoing learning and module comprehension.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering all module content, constituting the majority of the module grade.
Master's Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research project assessed through written submission and oral defence, demonstrating research competence in farm management.
Practical Attachment Report
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of the agribusiness internship, including a supervisor's report and student's reflective report on practical experience.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region through IUCEA frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
Professional affiliation
Professional body for agricultural research scientists in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Farm Manager
High demandKsh 89,500 to Ksh 285,000
Manages large-scale agricultural operations, overseeing crop and livestock production, staff, equipment, and financial performance. Average salary approximately KES 183,000 per month.
Agricultural Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 223,000
Provides advisory services to agricultural enterprises on strategic management, production optimisation, and business planning.
Agribusiness Manager
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages agribusiness operations including supply chain management, processing, and marketing of agricultural products.
Agricultural Economist
Moderate demandKsh 95,000 to Ksh 215,000
Analyses economic data related to agricultural production, markets, and policy to inform decision-making in both public and private sectors.
Agricultural Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts research on farming systems, production technologies, and management practices at institutions such as KALRO and universities.
Value Chain Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 170,000
Analyses and optimises agricultural value chains, identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements and market linkages.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue roles in farm management, agricultural consulting, agribusiness development, and agricultural research across Kenya's growing agricultural sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Farm Management Software
SoftwarePrimary
Digital tools for farm planning, record-keeping, and performance monitoring.
Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Used for financial analysis, budgeting, production planning, and data management in farm operations.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software used for empirical social research and data analysis in agricultural studies.
GIS Software
Software
Geographic Information Systems for land use planning, spatial analysis, and farm mapping.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Farm management is only about crop and livestock production.
The programme covers comprehensive business management including financial controlling, strategic planning, marketing, and international trade in addition to production technology.
The programme is only for those from farming backgrounds.
Applicants with degrees in agricultural sciences, economics, or related fields are eligible, and the programme accepts those with relevant work experience in the agricultural sector.
Farm management graduates can only work on farms.
Graduates pursue diverse roles including agricultural consulting, policy analysis, research, agribusiness management, and positions in international agricultural organisations.
International farm management is irrelevant to Kenyan agriculture.
The programme's international focus prepares graduates to engage with global agricultural markets, trade agreements, and international best practices applicable to Kenyan farming.
A master's degree in farm management is unnecessary for practical farming.
Modern farm management increasingly requires advanced skills in data analysis, financial planning, and strategic decision-making that go beyond practical farming experience.
The degree is only recognised within Kenya.
CUE accreditation is recognised across East Africa through IUCEA frameworks, and the programme's international focus enhances global mobility.