Agriculture

Master of Science in Dry land Agriculture

The Master of Science in Dryland Agriculture is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in dryland farming systems, drought resilience, and agricultural enterprise development in arid and semi-arid lands. The programme combines dryland agriculture theory with practical field work, water management, and enterprise development research application.

Core areas include dryland cropping systems, soil and water management in arid areas, drought-tolerant crop production, pasture and rangeland management, dryland livestock production, agricultural enterprise development, climate adaptation, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both agriculture theory and practical field and laboratory work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University as MSc in Dryland Agriculture and Enterprise Development through the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, with the programme based at the Kitui Campus for full-time study and at Main and City campuses for part-time study. The University of Eldoret offers related agriculture programmes through the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology. Both are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time, part-time, and distance learning modes of study.

Students develop competencies in dryland cropping, soil and water management, drought-tolerant crops, rangeland management, enterprise development, and climate adaptation. The programme includes coursework, examinations, field work, and a supervised research thesis.

Kenyatta University charges approximately KES 326,400/year for MSc in Dryland Agriculture and Enterprise Development for East African full-time students. The University of Eldoret charges similar fees for agriculture masters programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Lower Division in Agriculture, Agricultural Resource Management, Dryland Agriculture, Range Management, Horticulture, Environmental Science, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as dryland agriculture specialists, rangeland managers, agricultural enterprise developers, extension officers, research scientists, and lecturers in dryland agriculture across government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, agricultural companies, and universities.

Skills Required

Dryland Cropping Systems and Management
Soil and Water Management in Arid Areas
Drought-Tolerant Crop Production
Pasture and Rangeland Management
Dryland Livestock Production
Agricultural Enterprise Development
Climate Adaptation in Drylands
Rainwater Harvesting and Conservation
Research Methods in Dryland Agriculture
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Dryland Cropping Systems and Management
Soil and Water Management in Arid Areas
Drought-Tolerant Crop Production
Pasture and Rangeland Management
Dryland Livestock Production
Agricultural Enterprise Development
Climate Adaptation in Drylands
Rainwater Harvesting and Conservation
Research Methods in Dryland Agriculture
Thesis Research

Certifications

KALRO Dryland Agriculture Certification
ICARDA Dryland Agriculture Certification

Specializations

Dryland Cropping Systems

Focuses on dryland cropping, covering drought-tolerant crops, rotation, intercropping, conservation, and managing dryland crop production.

Soil and Water Management

Examines soil and water management in arid areas, covering conservation, rainwater harvesting, irrigation, and managing dryland soil and water.

Rangeland Management

Covers rangeland management, covering pasture, grazing, restoration, biodiversity, and managing rangeland resources.

Dryland Enterprise Development

Focuses on enterprise development in drylands, covering agribusiness, value chains, markets, and managing agricultural enterprises.

Dryland Livestock Production

Examines dryland livestock production, covering drought-tolerant breeds, feeding, health, and managing dryland livestock.

Climate Adaptation in Drylands

Covers climate adaptation in drylands, covering resilience, adaptation strategies, CSA, and managing climate adaptation.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 434,000
Private, up to: Ksh 52,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Dryland Cropping Systems and Management
Soil and Water Management in Arid Areas
Drought-Tolerant Crop Production
Pasture and Rangeland Management
Dryland Livestock Production
Agricultural Enterprise Development
Climate Adaptation in Drylands
Rainwater Harvesting and Conservation
Research Methods in Dryland Agriculture
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Dryland Cropping Systems and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines drought-tolerant crops, rotation, intercropping, conservation tillage, and managing dryland crop production.
Soil and Water Management in Arid Areas
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers conservation, rainwater harvesting, terracing, mulching, drip irrigation, and managing dryland soil and water.
Research Methods in Dryland Agriculture
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, biostatistics, and conducting dryland agriculture research, preparing students for their thesis.
Drought-Tolerant Crop Production
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines sorghum, millet, cowpea, pigeon pea, green gram, cassava, and managing drought-tolerant crop production.
Pasture and Rangeland Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers pasture, grazing systems, restoration, biodiversity, carrying capacity, and managing rangeland resources.
Dryland Livestock Production
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines drought-tolerant breeds, feeding, health, mobility, pastoral systems, and managing dryland livestock.
Agricultural Enterprise Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers agribusiness, value chains, markets, processing, business plans, and managing agricultural enterprises in drylands.
Climate Adaptation in Drylands
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines resilience, adaptation strategies, CSA, weather information, risk management, and managing climate adaptation.
Rainwater Harvesting and Conservation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers techniques, design, storage, utilisation, sand dams, pans, and managing rainwater harvesting systems.
Dryland Soil Fertility and Health
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines soil fertility, organic matter, nutrient cycling, composting, ISFM, and managing dryland soil health.
GIS for Dryland Agriculture Planning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers GIS, remote sensing, land use mapping, suitability analysis, and managing GIS for dryland agriculture planning.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a dryland agriculture topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agriculture knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Dryland Cropping Systems
Focuses on dryland cropping, covering drought-tolerant crops, rotation, intercropping, conservation, and managing dryland crop production.
Soil and Water Management
Examines soil and water management in arid areas, covering conservation, rainwater harvesting, irrigation, and managing dryland soil and water.
Rangeland Management
Covers rangeland management, covering pasture, grazing, restoration, biodiversity, and managing rangeland resources.
Dryland Enterprise Development
Focuses on enterprise development in drylands, covering agribusiness, value chains, markets, and managing agricultural enterprises.
Dryland Livestock Production
Examines dryland livestock production, covering drought-tolerant breeds, feeding, health, and managing dryland livestock.
Climate Adaptation in Drylands
Covers climate adaptation in drylands, covering resilience, adaptation strategies, CSA, and managing climate adaptation.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Dryland Agriculture programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, field work, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover dryland cropping, soil and water management, rangeland management, and enterprise development. Dryland cropping sessions examine drought-tolerant crops, rotation, intercropping, conservation tillage, and managing dryland crop production. Soil and water management sessions cover conservation, rainwater harvesting, terracing, mulching, drip irrigation, and managing dryland soil and water. Drought-tolerant crop sessions cover sorghum, millet, cowpea, pigeon pea, green gram, and managing drought-tolerant crops. Rangeland management sessions cover pasture, grazing systems, restoration, biodiversity, and managing rangeland resources. Dryland livestock sessions cover drought-tolerant breeds, feeding, health, mobility, and managing dryland livestock. Enterprise development sessions cover agribusiness, value chains, markets, processing, and managing agricultural enterprises. Climate adaptation sessions cover resilience, adaptation strategies, CSA, weather, and managing climate adaptation. Rainwater harvesting sessions cover techniques, design, storage, utilisation, and managing rainwater harvesting. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with soil analysis, plant tissue analysis, seed testing, and analytical instruments. Field work provides hands-on experience with dryland farm trials, crop assessments, soil sampling, and rangeland assessments. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with GIS, farm planning, water harvesting, and dryland agriculture tools. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in dryland agriculture and presenting research findings. Guest lectures from experienced agronomists, extension officers, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a dryland agriculture topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses Kenya's critical need for dryland agriculture expertise with over 80 per cent of Kenya's land being arid or semi-arid.
KU offers the programme through full-time, part-time, and distance learning (DSVOL) modes, providing flexible study options.
KU accepts Second Class Lower Division entry, making the programme more accessible than programmes requiring Upper Division.
Graduates are eligible for KALRO and ICARDA certifications, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

KU charges relatively high fees at approximately KES 326,400/year.
Programme is primarily based at KU Kitui Campus for full-time study, which may be inconvenient for some students.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Career opportunities may be concentrated in government, NGOs, and research institutions, with limited private sector demand.

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

Public130k to 434k

130k at Chuka University434k at University of Nairobi

Private53k to 53k

53k at Kenya Methodist University53k 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 ~434K/yr (larmat.uonbi.ac.ke), KU 326K, Egerton ~189K, Chuka 130K. Private: KeMU ~53K/yr DLM (fixusjobs)

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KU and Egerton may offer postgraduate bursaries and scholarships. KALRO and some agricultural research organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study. ICARDA may offer research grants and fellowships for dryland agriculture research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KU Postgraduate Scholarship
Egerton University Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KU Postgraduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
KU offers postgraduate scholarships for eligible students.
Egerton University Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Egerton University offers bursaries for eligible postgraduate students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: KU accepts Second Class Lower Division in Agriculture or related fields from institutions recognised by KU Senate. University of Eldoret requires Upper Second or Lower Second with two years experience. Egerton requires Upper Second or Lower Second with two years experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, field reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering dryland cropping, soil and water management, rangeland, and enterprise development.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field exercises, laboratory exercises, farm trials, soil analysis, and demonstrating dryland agriculture skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a dryland agriculture topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agriculture knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University (public) offers MSc in Dryland Agriculture and Enterprise Development through the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. University of Eldoret and Egerton University (public) offer related agriculture programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in dryland agriculture. Graduates are eligible for KALRO dryland agriculture certification and ICARDA dryland agriculture certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University (public) offers MSc in Dryland Agriculture and Enterprise Development through the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. University of Eldoret and Egerton University (public) offer related agriculture programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in dryland agriculture. Graduates are eligible for KALRO dryland agriculture certification and ICARDA dryland agriculture certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Dryland Agriculture Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages dryland agriculture programmes, overseeing cropping, soil, water, and managing dryland agriculture.
Rangeland Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages rangeland resources, overseeing pasture, grazing, restoration, and managing rangeland.
Agricultural Enterprise Developer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Develops agricultural enterprises, overseeing agribusiness, value chains, markets, and managing enterprises.
Agricultural Extension Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides extension services, overseeing farmer training, advisory, and managing extension programmes.
Research Scientist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Conducts dryland agriculture research, overseeing experiments, analysis, publications, and managing research projects.
Agriculture Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches dryland agriculture at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
SoftwarePrimary
ArcGIS for dryland agriculture planning, covering land use mapping, suitability analysis, soil mapping, and managing GIS for agriculture.
DSSAT
Software
DSSAT for crop simulation, covering crop modelling, weather, soil, management, and managing dryland crop simulation.
R Studio
Software
R Studio for data analysis, covering agriculture data, statistical computing, and managing biological data analysis.
STATISTIX
Software
STATISTIX for agricultural data analysis, covering experimental data, field trials, and managing statistical analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Dryland agriculture is just about farming in dry areas.
Dryland agriculture covers comprehensive cropping systems, soil and water management, rangeland, livestock, enterprise development, and climate adaptation beyond just farming in dry areas.
This programme is only for farmers in arid areas.
Dryland agriculture skills are valuable for extension officers, researchers, policy makers, NGO workers, and consultants beyond just farmers in arid areas.
Soil and water management is just about irrigation.
Soil and water management in drylands covers comprehensive conservation, rainwater harvesting, terracing, mulching, and drip irrigation.
Rangeland management is just about grazing.
Rangeland management covers comprehensive pasture, grazing systems, restoration, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
Dryland enterprise development is just about selling crops.
Dryland enterprise development covers comprehensive agribusiness, value chains, markets, processing, and business management.
Climate adaptation is just about drought-resistant crops.
Climate adaptation in drylands covers comprehensive resilience, adaptation strategies, CSA, weather information, and risk management.