Agriculture

Master of Science in Agrometeorology

The Master of Science in Agrometeorology is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates to become specialists in the interactions between weather, climate, and agriculture. The programme prepares graduates to apply meteorological science to agricultural production, food security, and climate adaptation in Kenya and beyond.

Core areas of study include agrometeorology, climate science, weather forecasting, crop-climate relationships, climate change and agriculture, hydro-meteorology, bio-meteorology, environmental meteorology, remote sensing, statistical methods, and research methods. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications in agrometeorology and climate science.

The programme is offered by Kirinyaga University, Strathmore University, and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, with the University of Nairobi as a college. The University of Nairobi offers MSc in Meteorology with agrometeorology as a key application area through its Department of Earth and Climate Science. South Eastern Kenya University also offers MSc in Agro Meteorology. The programme is designed for meteorology, agriculture, and environmental science graduates.

Students develop competencies in agrometeorological analysis, climate data interpretation, weather forecasting for agriculture, climate change impact assessment, crop-climate modelling, remote sensing applications, and agrometeorological research. The programme includes coursework, laboratory sessions, field work, research projects, examinations, and a research thesis. UoN's programme consists of 6 core units, 6 electives, and a research project.

The programme is delivered over two years with four semesters of 15 weeks each. UoN's programme requires 3-6 course units per semester. The programme accommodates both full-time and part-time study. The programme is designed for professionals seeking to apply meteorological science to agricultural development and climate adaptation.

Graduates pursue careers as agrometeorologists, climate scientists, agricultural meteorology specialists, climate change analysts, weather forecasters, environmental consultants, and researchers in meteorological departments, agricultural research institutions, government, NGOs, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Agrometeorological Analysis and Forecasting
Climate Data Interpretation and Analysis
Crop-Climate Relationship Modelling
Climate Change Impact Assessment
Weather Forecasting for Agriculture
Remote Sensing and GIS Applications
Hydro-meteorology and Water Resources
Statistical Methods in Meteorology
Environmental Impact Assessment
Agrometeorological Research and Data Analysis

Key Subjects

Agrometeorology
Climate Science and Climate Change
Weather Forecasting and Analysis
Crop-Climate Relationships
Hydro-meteorology
Bio-meteorology
Environmental Meteorology
Remote Sensing and GIS
Statistical Methods in Meteorology
Research Methods in Meteorology

Certifications

WMO Meteorological Professional Certification
KMD Agrometeorological Certification

Specializations

Agricultural Meteorology

Focuses on agrometeorology, weather and climate effects on crop production, crop-climate relationships, and applying meteorological data to agricultural decision-making.

Climate Change and Agriculture

Examines climate change impacts on agriculture, adaptation strategies, mitigation, and building climate-resilient agricultural systems.

Hydro-meteorology

Covers hydro-meteorology, water resources, rainfall analysis, drought monitoring, and managing water resources for agricultural production.

Bio-meteorology

Focuses on bio-meteorology, interactions between living organisms and the atmosphere, pest and disease dynamics, and biological responses to weather and climate.

Environmental Meteorology

Examines environmental meteorology, atmospheric pollution, environmental impact assessment, and applying meteorology to environmental management.

Applied Meteorology and Forecasting

Covers weather forecasting, meteorological instrumentation, data analysis, and producing weather and climate information for agricultural and public use.

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: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Agrometeorology
Climate Science and Climate Change
Weather Forecasting and Analysis
Crop-Climate Relationships
Hydro-meteorology
Bio-meteorology
Environmental Meteorology
Remote Sensing and GIS
Statistical Methods in Meteorology
Research Methods in Meteorology

Modules

12 in the programme

Agrometeorology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines agrometeorology, weather and climate effects on crop production, crop-climate relationships, microclimate, and applying meteorological data to agricultural decision-making.
Climate Science and Climate Change
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers climate science fundamentals, climate change, greenhouse effect, climate modelling, and climate change impacts on agriculture and natural resources.
Weather Forecasting and Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines weather forecasting methods, synoptic meteorology, numerical weather prediction, meteorological instrumentation, and producing weather forecasts for agricultural use.
Crop-Climate Relationships
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers crop-climate relationships, crop water requirements, phenology, growing degree days, crop yield modelling, and analysing climate effects on crop development and yield.
Hydro-meteorology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines hydro-meteorology, rainfall analysis, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, drought monitoring, and managing water resources for agricultural production.
Bio-meteorology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers bio-meteorology, interactions between living organisms and the atmosphere, pest and disease dynamics, and biological responses to weather and climate.
Remote Sensing and GIS in Meteorology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines remote sensing and GIS applications in meteorology, satellite meteorology, interpreting satellite imagery, and using GIS for agrometeorological mapping and analysis.
Environmental Meteorology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers environmental meteorology, atmospheric pollution, environmental impact assessment, and applying meteorology to environmental management and monitoring.
Statistical Methods in Meteorology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines statistical methods for meteorology, time series analysis, climate data analysis, statistical modelling, and using statistical software for meteorological research.
Climate Change and Agriculture
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers climate change impacts on agriculture, adaptation strategies, mitigation, climate-resilient agriculture, and developing climate services for farmers.
Research Methods in Meteorology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines research methods for meteorology, research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting agrometeorological research, preparing students for their thesis.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research project on an agrometeorology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and meteorological knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Agricultural Meteorology
Focuses on agrometeorology, weather and climate effects on crop production, crop-climate relationships, and applying meteorological data to agricultural decision-making.
Climate Change and Agriculture
Examines climate change impacts on agriculture, adaptation strategies, mitigation, and building climate-resilient agricultural systems.
Hydro-meteorology
Covers hydro-meteorology, water resources, rainfall analysis, drought monitoring, and managing water resources for agricultural production.
Bio-meteorology
Focuses on bio-meteorology, interactions between living organisms and the atmosphere, pest and disease dynamics, and biological responses to weather and climate.
Environmental Meteorology
Examines environmental meteorology, atmospheric pollution, environmental impact assessment, and applying meteorology to environmental management.
Applied Meteorology and Forecasting
Covers weather forecasting, meteorological instrumentation, data analysis, and producing weather and climate information for agricultural and public use.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Agrometeorology programme begins with morning lectures on agrometeorology, climate science, or weather forecasting. Students engage in theoretical discussions on weather and climate processes, crop-climate relationships, and climate change impacts on agriculture. Laboratory sessions involve analysing meteorological data, using weather instruments, interpreting satellite imagery, and conducting climate data analysis. Statistical methods sessions use statistical software to analyse meteorological and agricultural data, conduct trend analysis, and model crop-climate relationships. Remote sensing sessions involve interpreting satellite data, using GIS for agrometeorological mapping, and applying remote sensing to agriculture. UoN's programme includes 6 core units, 6 electives, and a research project, with students taking 3-6 units per semester. Climate change sessions examine climate change impacts on agriculture, adaptation strategies, and building climate-resilient agricultural systems. Hydro-meteorology sessions cover rainfall analysis, drought monitoring, and water resources for agriculture. Bio-meteorology sessions explore pest and disease dynamics related to weather, and biological responses to climate. Field work takes students to meteorological stations, agricultural research stations, and climate-affected farming areas. Guest lectures from KMD forecasters, climate researchers, and agricultural scientists provide real-world insights. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering meteorological research methods and data analysis. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Climate change and Kenya's reliance on rain-fed agriculture create high demand for agrometeorologists in meteorological services, research, and agricultural development.
University of Nairobi offers MSc Meteorology with agrometeorology as a key specialisation, through its established Department of Earth and Climate Science.
Programme combines meteorological science with agricultural applications, providing versatile skills applicable to climate services, food security, and environmental management.
Strong career opportunities with regional and international organisations including ICPAC, WMO, FAO, and IGAD working on climate and agriculture in East Africa.

Against it

Kirinyaga University and Strathmore University do not appear to offer agrometeorology specifically, with the DB listing potentially mapping to broader programmes.
Programme requires strong physics and mathematics background, which may exclude graduates without sufficient science foundation.
Agrometeorology is a specialised field with limited awareness among employers, potentially restricting career options to meteorological and agricultural research roles.
Limited number of universities offering the programme specifically in agrometeorology, with most offering it as a specialisation within broader meteorology 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

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

Unverified; kept existing. Rongo MSc ~110K/yr (eafinder) but no agrometeorology spec.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. WMO offers fellowship programmes for meteorological capacity building in developing countries. FAO provides climate-smart agriculture grants for agricultural climate services. The programme's climate focus attracts climate change and food security donor funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
WMO Fellowship Programme
FAO Climate-Smart Agriculture Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate meteorological science studies at recognised universities.
WMO Fellowship Programme
FellowshipKsh 500,000
WMO offers fellowship programmes for meteorological capacity building in developing countries, supporting postgraduate training in meteorology and related fields.
FAO Climate-Smart Agriculture Grants
GrantKsh 400,000
FAO provides climate-smart agriculture grants for agricultural climate services, supporting postgraduate training and research in agrometeorology and climate adaptation.

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 designed for meteorology, agriculture, and environmental science graduates. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time study modes at UoN. Four semesters of 15 weeks each, with 3-6 course units per semester. UoN's programme includes 6 core units, 6 electives, and a research project. Science graduates from other disciplines may enter with a Postgraduate Diploma in Meteorology.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, data analysis exercises, climate modelling projects, and class participation throughout the programme.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering agrometeorology, climate science, weather forecasting, and statistical methods, conducted at end of each semester.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of practical skills including meteorological data analysis, instrument use, GIS mapping, and field reports from meteorological stations and agricultural sites.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on an agrometeorology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and meteorological knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The University of Nairobi's MSc in Meteorology is offered through its Department of Earth and Climate Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate meteorological science training. The Kenya Meteorological Department provides additional professional standards for meteorological practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. The University of Nairobi's MSc in Meteorology is offered through its Department of Earth and Climate Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate meteorological science training.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Professional accreditation
WMO provides international standards for meteorological education and practice. Graduates working in meteorological services may require WMO-compliant training and certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Agrometeorologist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Applies meteorological science to agriculture, analysing weather and climate effects on crops, providing agrometeorological advisories, and supporting agricultural decision-making.
Climate Scientist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts climate research, analysing climate data, modelling climate change impacts, and developing climate services for agriculture and natural resource management.
Weather Forecaster
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 400,000
Produces weather forecasts for agricultural and public use, working with meteorological departments, analysing weather data, and communicating forecast information.
Climate Change Analyst
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analyses climate change impacts on agriculture, assessing vulnerability, developing adaptation strategies, and supporting climate-resilient agricultural development.
Environmental Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consults on environmental and climate issues, advising organisations on environmental impact, climate adaptation, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts agrometeorological research in research institutions or universities, developing improved climate services and contributing to meteorological knowledge.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as agrometeorologists, climate scientists, and weather forecasters in meteorological departments, research institutions, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R Statistical Computing
SoftwarePrimary
Open-source statistical computing environment for climate data analysis, time series analysis, and meteorological research.
GIS Software (QGIS/ArcGIS)
SoftwarePrimary
Geographic information systems for agrometeorological mapping, spatial analysis of climate data, and mapping climate impacts on agriculture.
Python for Data Analysis
Software
Programming language for climate data processing, meteorological data analysis, and developing climate models and applications.
Meteorological Instruments
Equipment
Meteorological instruments including weather stations, rain gauges, thermometers, anemometers, and data loggers for collecting weather and climate data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agrometeorology is just about weather forecasting for farmers.
Agrometeorology encompasses climate science, crop-climate relationships, climate change adaptation, hydro-meteorology, bio-meteorology, and environmental meteorology, far beyond simple weather forecasting.
There is limited demand for agrometeorologists in Kenya.
Climate change, food security concerns, and Kenya's reliance on rain-fed agriculture create high demand for agrometeorologists in meteorological services, research, and agricultural development.
This programme is only for meteorology graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from meteorology, agriculture, environmental science, and related science disciplines, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of agrometeorology.
Agrometeorology is not relevant in the digital age.
Digital technology, remote sensing, satellite data, and climate models have made agrometeorology more relevant than ever, with growing demand for climate services in agriculture.
This programme is the same as general meteorology.
Agrometeorology specifically focuses on the application of meteorological science to agriculture, while general meteorology covers broader weather and climate phenomena.
Climate change makes agrometeorology unpredictable and unreliable.
Climate change increases the importance of agrometeorology, as understanding and adapting to changing climate patterns becomes critical for agricultural production and food security.