Agriculture

Master of Science in Agri-Enterprise Development

The Master of Science in Agri-Enterprise Development is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in agricultural enterprise development, agribusiness innovation, and rural entrepreneurship. The programme combines agricultural science with business management and enterprise development methodology.

Core areas include agri-enterprise development, agricultural entrepreneurship, agribusiness management, value chain analysis, agricultural finance, enterprise planning, innovation management, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both agricultural enterprise theory and practical business application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Egerton University through the Faculty of Agriculture. Egerton is a public university offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study at the Main Campus in Njoro.

Students develop competencies in agri-enterprise development, agricultural entrepreneurship, value chain management, agricultural finance, enterprise planning, innovation management, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a research thesis.

Egerton charges approximately KES 172,150/year for agricultural master's programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, or related fields from a recognised university. Lower Second Division holders with at least two years of relevant experience are also considered.

Graduates pursue careers as agri-enterprise developers, agricultural entrepreneurs, agribusiness managers, value chain analysts, agricultural consultants, and lecturers in agri-enterprise development across agricultural organisations, NGOs, government, and financial institutions.

Skills Required

Agri-Enterprise Development and Planning
Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Value Chain Analysis and Management
Agricultural Finance and Investment
Agribusiness Management and Strategy
Enterprise Planning and Feasibility Analysis
Market Analysis and Agricultural Marketing
Rural Development and Livelihoods
Research Methods in Agribusiness
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Agri-Enterprise Development
Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Value Chain Analysis and Management
Agricultural Finance and Investment
Enterprise Planning and Feasibility Analysis
Agricultural Marketing and Market Analysis
Rural Development and Livelihoods
Research Methods in Agribusiness
Innovation Management in Agriculture
Thesis Research

Certifications

KAM Agribusiness Certification
FAO Enterprise Development Certification

Specializations

Agricultural Entrepreneurship

Focuses on agricultural entrepreneurship, covering enterprise creation, business planning, innovation, startup management, and managing agricultural enterprises.

Value Chain Development

Examines value chain development, covering value chain analysis, value addition, market linkages, supply chain management, and managing agricultural value chains.

Agribusiness Finance

Covers agribusiness finance, covering agricultural finance, investment analysis, credit management, financial planning, and managing agribusiness finance.

Rural Enterprise Development

Focuses on rural enterprise development, covering rural entrepreneurship, community enterprise, livelihoods, rural markets, and managing rural enterprises.

Agricultural Innovation

Examines agricultural innovation, covering innovation systems, technology adoption, innovation management, research-extension linkages, and managing agricultural innovation.

Enterprise Marketing

Covers enterprise marketing, covering agricultural marketing, market analysis, brand management, digital marketing, and managing enterprise marketing.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 433,500
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: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Agri-Enterprise Development
Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Value Chain Analysis and Management
Agricultural Finance and Investment
Enterprise Planning and Feasibility Analysis
Agricultural Marketing and Market Analysis
Rural Development and Livelihoods
Research Methods in Agribusiness
Innovation Management in Agriculture
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Agri-Enterprise Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines enterprise creation, enterprise growth, enterprise sustainability, enterprise ecosystems, and managing agri-enterprises.
Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers opportunity identification, business planning, startup management, innovation systems, technology adoption, and managing agricultural entrepreneurship.
Research Methods in Agribusiness
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting agribusiness research, preparing students for their thesis.
Value Chain Analysis and Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines value chain mapping, value addition, market linkages, supply chain management, value chain governance, and managing agricultural value chains.
Agricultural Finance and Investment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers agricultural credit, investment analysis, financial planning, risk financing, microfinance, and managing agribusiness finance.
Enterprise Planning and Feasibility Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines feasibility analysis, business plan development, project management, enterprise monitoring, enterprise evaluation, and managing enterprise planning.
Agricultural Marketing and Market Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers market analysis, marketing strategy, agricultural marketing, brand management, digital marketing, and managing agricultural marketing.
Rural Development and Livelihoods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines rural livelihoods, community development, participatory approaches, rural markets, rural policy, and managing rural enterprise development.
Innovation Management in Agriculture
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers innovation systems, technology adoption, research-extension linkages, innovation ecosystems, intellectual property, and managing agricultural innovation.
Agribusiness Policy and Regulatory Environment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines agricultural policy, regulatory frameworks, trade policy, enterprise regulations, compliance, and managing agribusiness policy.
Project Management for Agri-Enterprises
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers project design, project planning, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, project finance, and managing agri-enterprise projects.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an agri-enterprise development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agribusiness knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Agricultural Entrepreneurship
Focuses on agricultural entrepreneurship, covering enterprise creation, business planning, innovation, startup management, and managing agricultural enterprises.
Value Chain Development
Examines value chain development, covering value chain analysis, value addition, market linkages, supply chain management, and managing agricultural value chains.
Agribusiness Finance
Covers agribusiness finance, covering agricultural finance, investment analysis, credit management, financial planning, and managing agribusiness finance.
Rural Enterprise Development
Focuses on rural enterprise development, covering rural entrepreneurship, community enterprise, livelihoods, rural markets, and managing rural enterprises.
Agricultural Innovation
Examines agricultural innovation, covering innovation systems, technology adoption, innovation management, research-extension linkages, and managing agricultural innovation.
Enterprise Marketing
Covers enterprise marketing, covering agricultural marketing, market analysis, brand management, digital marketing, and managing enterprise marketing.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Agri-Enterprise Development programme combines lectures, case studies, field visits, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover agri-enterprise development, agricultural entrepreneurship, value chain analysis, agricultural finance, and enterprise planning. Agri-enterprise development sessions examine enterprise creation, enterprise growth, enterprise sustainability, enterprise ecosystems, and managing agri-enterprises. Agricultural entrepreneurship sessions cover opportunity identification, business planning, startup management, risk management, and managing agricultural entrepreneurship. Value chain analysis sessions cover value chain mapping, value addition, market linkages, supply chain management, and managing agricultural value chains. Agricultural finance sessions cover agricultural credit, investment analysis, financial planning, risk financing, and managing agribusiness finance. Enterprise planning sessions cover feasibility analysis, business plan development, project management, enterprise monitoring, and managing enterprise planning. Innovation management sessions cover innovation systems, technology adoption, research-extension linkages, innovation ecosystems, and managing agricultural innovation. Agricultural marketing sessions cover market analysis, marketing strategy, brand management, digital marketing, and managing agricultural marketing. Rural development sessions cover rural livelihoods, community development, participatory approaches, rural markets, and managing rural enterprise development. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Case studies and field visits provide practical experience with agri-enterprises, value chains, agricultural markets, and enterprise development projects. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in agri-enterprise development. Guest lectures from experienced agri-entrepreneurs, NGO leaders, and agricultural consultants provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an agri-enterprise development topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme is unique and specialised, offered exclusively at Egerton University through the TAGDev initiative.
TAGDev scholarships provide full-board support including tuition, research, accommodation, and stipend for eligible students.
Programme combines agricultural science with business management, providing versatile skills for agribusiness and enterprise development.
Growing demand for agri-enterprise professionals with agricultural commercialisation and value chain development in Kenya.

Against it

Only one university (Egerton) confirmed offering this specific programme, limiting institutional choice.
Fees not independently verified from official Egerton fee structure, based on general master's fee range.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires agriculture or related background, which may limit access for non-agricultural graduates.

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

Public84k to 434k

84k 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 & Rongo fees unverified. Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. The TAGDev programme at Egerton, supported by the Mastercard Foundation and RUFORUM, provides full-board comprehensive scholarships covering tuition, research costs, living expenses, accommodation, laptop, internship, and entrepreneurship training. FAO and other international organisations may provide training support for agri-enterprise development professionals.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TAGDev Scholarship
Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
TAGDev Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 500,000Kenyan
TAGDev programme at Egerton provides full-board scholarships covering tuition, research, accommodation, stipend, and laptop for eligible agri-enterprise students.
Mastercard Foundation Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 500,000
Mastercard Foundation supports TAGDev scholarships for African students in agri-enterprise development at Egerton University.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Egerton University requires Upper Second Class Honours in agriculture or related field. Lower Second Division holders with at least two years of relevant experience are considered. Contact Egerton University for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, business plan development, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering agri-enterprise development, value chain analysis, agricultural finance, enterprise planning, and agricultural marketing.
Field Project Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Practical assessment through field projects, enterprise feasibility studies, value chain analysis projects, and demonstrating enterprise development skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an agri-enterprise development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agribusiness knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Egerton University (public) offers MSc in Agri-Enterprise Development through the Faculty of Agriculture. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in agri-enterprise development. The TAGDev programme at Egerton, supported by the Mastercard Foundation and RUFORUM, provides additional accreditation and scholarship opportunities.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Egerton University (public) offers MSc in Agri-Enterprise Development through the Faculty of Agriculture. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in agri-enterprise development. The TAGDev programme at Egerton, supported by the Mastercard Foundation and RUFORUM, provides additional accreditation and scholarship opportunities.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Agri-Enterprise Developer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Develops agricultural enterprises, overseeing enterprise creation, enterprise planning, enterprise growth, and managing agri-enterprise development projects.
Agricultural Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 600,000
Creates and manages agricultural ventures, overseeing business planning, enterprise operations, innovation, and managing agricultural enterprises.
Agribusiness Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages agribusiness operations, overseeing business strategy, operations management, financial management, and managing agribusiness enterprises.
Value Chain Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analyses agricultural value chains, overseeing value chain mapping, value addition analysis, market linkages, and managing value chain development.
Agricultural Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Consults on agricultural enterprise matters, overseeing enterprise advisory, feasibility studies, business planning, and managing agricultural consulting.
Agribusiness Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches agri-enterprise development at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, field supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
SPSS statistical software for agribusiness research, covering data analysis, statistical tests, and managing research data.
Excel
Software
Excel for enterprise planning, covering financial modelling, business planning, feasibility analysis, and managing enterprise data.
Stata
Software
Stata statistical software for agribusiness research, covering data analysis, econometric modelling, and managing research data.
Business Model Canvas
Tool
Business Model Canvas for enterprise planning, covering business model design, value proposition, revenue streams, and managing enterprise models.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agri-enterprise development is just about farming.
Agri-enterprise development covers comprehensive enterprise development including value chains, finance, marketing, innovation, and rural development beyond just farming.
This programme is only for those from farming backgrounds.
Agri-enterprise development skills are valuable for anyone interested in agricultural business, value chains, rural development, and enterprise management.
Agri-enterprise has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing agricultural commercialisation, value chain development, and rural enterprise initiatives, demand for agri-enterprise professionals is increasing in Kenya.
Agricultural entrepreneurship is just about starting a farm.
Agricultural entrepreneurship covers diverse ventures including processing, marketing, input supply, advisory services, and technology innovation.
Value chain development is just about marketing.
Value chain development covers comprehensive analysis including production, processing, distribution, consumption, and governance of agricultural value chains.
Agri-enterprise is only for rural areas.
Agri-enterprise spans urban and rural contexts, covering urban agriculture, agri-processing, food tech, and agricultural services in both settings.