Agriculture

Master of Arts (Agricultural Geography)

The Master of Arts in Agricultural Geography at the University of Nairobi is a postgraduate research programme that examines the spatial dimensions of agricultural systems, land use, and rural development. The programme prepares graduates for careers in agricultural planning, land resource management, rural development research, and academia.

The curriculum covers agricultural land use systems, rural geography, agricultural economics, soil and land evaluation, farming systems analysis, agricultural policy, food security, and research methods in geography. Students develop analytical skills for understanding spatial patterns of agricultural production, land use change, and rural development processes.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least a Lower Second Class Honours in geography, agriculture, or a related discipline from the University of Nairobi or a recognised institution. A Pass degree with a relevant postgraduate diploma is also acceptable. The programme is offered by research and thesis over a minimum of 18 months to 3 years.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi. The programme is research-based, allowing students to focus on specific agricultural geography topics relevant to Kenya and East Africa.

Career prospects include roles in agricultural planning, land resource management, rural development, environmental consultancy, research, and academia. Graduates work in government ministries, research institutions, NGOs, international development organisations, and universities requiring agricultural geography expertise.

The programme addresses Kenya's need for spatial analysis expertise in agricultural development, land use planning, and food security. With increasing pressure on agricultural land from population growth, climate change, and urbanisation, demand for qualified agricultural geographers continues to grow in both public and private sectors concerned with sustainable land management and rural development.

Skills Required

Agricultural land use analysis
Spatial analysis in agriculture
Farming systems analysis
Rural development planning
GIS for agricultural planning
Land resource evaluation
Agricultural policy analysis
Food security assessment
Research methodology in geography
Remote sensing for land use

Key Subjects

Agricultural Land Use Systems
Rural Geography
Soil and Land Evaluation
Farming Systems Analysis
Agricultural Policy
Food Security
Research Methods in Geography
GIS and Remote Sensing
Agricultural Development
Land Resource Management

Certifications

Geographical Society of Kenya Membership
African Association of Geographers Membership
ESRI GIS Certification
ILRI Research Affiliation

Specializations

Agricultural Land Use Planning

Focuses on spatial planning of agricultural land use, land suitability assessment, and land use change analysis.

Rural Development Geography

Examines rural development processes, rural livelihoods, community development, and rural-urban linkages.

Food Systems and Food Security

Covers spatial analysis of food production, distribution, and food security challenges in Kenya and East Africa.

Agricultural Climate Adaptation

Focuses on climate change impacts on agriculture, adaptation strategies, and climate-smart agriculture from a geographic perspective.

Land Degradation and Conservation

Examines soil erosion, land degradation, conservation measures, and sustainable land management practices.

Agricultural Marketing Geography

Covers spatial aspects of agricultural marketing, value chains, market access, and agricultural trade patterns.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 142,000
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: 10 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Agricultural Land Use Systems
Rural Geography
Soil and Land Evaluation
Farming Systems Analysis
Agricultural Policy
Food Security
Research Methods in Geography
GIS and Remote Sensing
Agricultural Development
Land Resource Management

Modules

11 in the programme

Agricultural Land Use Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of agricultural land use systems, land use classification, and spatial patterns of agricultural production.
Research Methods in Geography
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for geographical research, including field methods, spatial analysis, statistical techniques, and academic writing.
Soil and Land Evaluation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of soil survey, land evaluation, land suitability assessment, and soil-land use relationships.
Farming Systems Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of farming systems, agricultural typology, smallholder farming, and agricultural intensification patterns.
Rural Geography and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Rural development processes, rural livelihoods, rural-urban linkages, and community development in agricultural contexts.
GIS and Remote Sensing for Agriculture
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Application of GIS and remote sensing for agricultural land use mapping, crop monitoring, and spatial analysis of agricultural systems.
Agricultural Policy and Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Agricultural policy frameworks, land reform, agricultural development planning, and policy analysis from a geographic perspective.
Food Security Geography
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Spatial dimensions of food security, food systems, vulnerability assessment, and food security mapping.
Climate Change and Agriculture
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Climate change impacts on agricultural systems, adaptation strategies, and climate-smart agriculture from a geographic perspective.
Land Degradation and Conservation
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Soil erosion, land degradation processes, conservation measures, and sustainable land management practices.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis on an agricultural geography topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Agricultural Land Use Planning
Focuses on spatial planning of agricultural land use, land suitability assessment, and land use change analysis.
Rural Development Geography
Examines rural development processes, rural livelihoods, community development, and rural-urban linkages.
Food Systems and Food Security
Covers spatial analysis of food production, distribution, and food security challenges in Kenya and East Africa.
Agricultural Climate Adaptation
Focuses on climate change impacts on agriculture, adaptation strategies, and climate-smart agriculture from a geographic perspective.
Land Degradation and Conservation
Examines soil erosion, land degradation, conservation measures, and sustainable land management practices.
Agricultural Marketing Geography
Covers spatial aspects of agricultural marketing, value chains, market access, and agricultural trade patterns.

A day as a student

A typical day centres on independent research and fieldwork. Mornings involve literature review, data analysis, or meetings with thesis supervisors. Students attend research methodology seminars and engage with agricultural data, GIS software, and spatial analysis tools. Fieldwork is a significant component, with visits to farming areas, agricultural research stations, and rural communities for data collection. Students analyse spatial patterns of agricultural land use, conduct farming system surveys, and map agricultural resources. The programme is research-based, so most time is spent on independent study, field research, and thesis writing, with access to the university library, GIS laboratory, and online academic databases.

The trade offs

In its favour

Research-based programme allowing focus on specific agricultural geography topics relevant to Kenya and East Africa.
Affordable tuition at KES 281,000 total for the MA programme.
UoN's Department of Geography has established faculty and research infrastructure.
Relevant to Kenya's agricultural development, food security, and land management priorities.

Against it

Only offered at one institution, limiting choice for prospective students.
Research-based format may lack structured coursework for students preferring taught programmes.
Niche specialisation within geography may limit broader career options compared to general geography programmes.
Limited access to advanced GIS and remote sensing facilities compared to dedicated geoinformatics programmes.

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

Public216k to 221k

216k at Kenyatta University221k at University of Nairobi

Private142k to 142k

142k at Mount Kenya University142k at Mount Kenya 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 MA 220.5K/yr (arts.uonbi.ac.ke). KU 216K/yr (ku.ac.ke). MKU 142K/yr (kenyaeducationguide.com).

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. ILRI may provide research grants for agricultural research. UoN may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on merit. FAO and IFPRI may offer research collaboration opportunities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
ILRI Research Grants
UoN Graduate Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
ILRI Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
ILRI may provide research grants for agricultural research in collaboration with the institute, particularly for livestock and farming systems research.
UoN Graduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 140,500Kenyan
The University of Nairobi may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on academic merit. Contact the School of Graduate Studies for details.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is open to graduates from geography, agriculture, environmental science, and related disciplines. The programme is research-based, offered full-time and part-time over 18 months to 3 years at the University of Nairobi, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.

How you are assessed

4 components

Research Proposal Defence
Practical100% of the mark
Oral defence of the research proposal before a faculty committee, demonstrating the feasibility and academic merit of the proposed research.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis on an agricultural geography topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence before an examination panel.
Supervisory Assessment
Coursework100% of the mark
Ongoing assessment by thesis supervisors of research progress, methodology, and academic rigour throughout the programme.
Seminar Presentations
Practical100% of the mark
Research seminar presentations to peers and faculty, demonstrating research progress and receiving feedback on thesis work.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. The University of Nairobi is a CUE-accredited public university.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. The University of Nairobi is a CUE-accredited public university.
Geographical Society of Kenya
Professional alignment
Kenyan professional society for geographers, promoting geographical research and professional development. Graduates may join for networking and professional development.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Agricultural Planning Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 240,000
Plans and implements agricultural development projects, land use plans, and agricultural policies for government ministries and development organisations.
Research Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 230,000
Conducts agricultural and geographical research for research institutions, universities, and international organisations.
Land Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 95,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages land resources, conducts land evaluations, and advises on sustainable land use for government agencies and environmental organisations.
Rural Development Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 260,000
Designs and implements rural development programmes, working with communities on agricultural development and livelihood improvement.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches geography, agricultural geography, or environmental studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in agricultural planning, land resource management, rural development, environmental consultancy, research, and academia across government, research institutions, NGOs, and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
Gis softwarePrimary
GIS software for spatial analysis of agricultural land use, land suitability mapping, and agricultural resource management.
QGIS
Gis softwarePrimary
Open-source GIS software for spatial analysis, mapping, and geographic data processing in agricultural research.
R Studio
Statistical software
Statistical computing environment for agricultural data analysis, spatial statistics, and research data processing.
Google Earth Engine
Remote sensing platform
Cloud-based platform for satellite imagery analysis of agricultural land use, crop monitoring, and environmental change detection.
SPSS
Statistical software
Statistical analysis software for quantitative agricultural geography research and survey data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural geography is just about farming.
Agricultural geography examines spatial patterns of agricultural systems, land use change, food security, rural development, and environmental impacts of agriculture.
There is no career demand for agricultural geographers.
Kenya's agricultural sector, land reform, food security initiatives, and rural development programmes create demand for spatial analysis expertise.
Geography research is purely theoretical.
Agricultural geography research involves extensive fieldwork, GIS analysis, remote sensing, and practical engagement with farming communities and agricultural systems.
Agricultural geography is outdated in the digital age.
Modern agricultural geography uses GIS, satellite imagery, precision agriculture data, and digital tools for spatial analysis of agricultural systems.
The programme only leads to academic careers.
Graduates work in government, NGOs, international development organisations, agricultural planning, environmental consultancy, and land management, not only academia.
Agricultural geography is the same as agricultural economics.
Agricultural geography focuses on spatial patterns and environmental relationships, while agricultural economics focuses on economic analysis of agricultural systems.