Agriculture

Master of Science in Dryland Farming

The Master of Science in Dryland Farming is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in dryland farming systems, focusing on sustainable crop production in arid and semi-arid environments. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in dryland agriculture, water-efficient farming, and arid lands crop production.

Core areas include dryland crop production, water management, soil conservation, drought-tolerant crops, dryland farming systems, conservation agriculture, irrigation management, dryland ecology, climate-smart agriculture, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical dryland farming applications.

The programme is offered by Kirinyaga University, Strathmore University, and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, with Egerton University as a college. Egerton offers the programme through its Faculty of Agriculture at Njoro Campus, and also offers PhD in Dryland Farming and related MSc programmes in Dryland Agro-Pastoral Systems, Dryland Integrated Land Management Systems, and Dryland Resources Management.

Students develop competencies in dryland crop production, water management, soil conservation, drought-tolerant crop selection, conservation agriculture, irrigation design, and research. The programme includes coursework, field work, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time study mode at Egerton. Egerton requires a degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours. Application fee is KES 2,000 at Egerton, payable to KCB Account No. 1101906812.

Graduates pursue careers as dryland farming specialists, agronomists, agricultural researchers, extension officers, irrigation managers, and lecturers in government agencies, research institutions, NGOs, agricultural companies, and universities.

Skills Required

Dryland Crop Production and Management
Water-Efficient Farming Systems
Soil Conservation and Management in Drylands
Drought-Tolerant Crop Selection and Breeding
Conservation Agriculture Techniques
Dryland Irrigation Design and Management
Climate-Smart Agriculture in Drylands
Dryland Farming Systems Design
Dryland Ecology and Environmental Management
Dryland Farming Research Methods

Key Subjects

Dryland Crop Production
Water Management
Soil Conservation
Drought-Tolerant Crops
Dryland Farming Systems
Conservation Agriculture
Irrigation Management
Dryland Ecology
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Dryland Farming Research Methods

Certifications

KALRO Professional Certification
ICARDA Training Certification

Specializations

Dryland Crop Production

Focuses on dryland crop production, drought-tolerant crops, dryland cropping systems, and producing crops sustainably in arid and semi-arid conditions.

Water Management

Examines water management in drylands, water harvesting, deficit irrigation, drip irrigation, and managing water resources for dryland farming.

Conservation Agriculture

Covers conservation agriculture, minimum tillage, mulching, cover crops, soil conservation, and sustainable farming practices for dryland environments.

Drought-Tolerant Crops

Focuses on drought-tolerant crops, sorghum, millet, cowpea, pigeon pea, cassava, and selecting and breeding crops for dryland conditions.

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Examines climate-smart agriculture, climate adaptation, resilient farming, and adapting dryland farming to climate change and variability.

Irrigation Management

Covers irrigation management in drylands, irrigation scheduling, efficient irrigation systems, and managing irrigation for optimal dryland crop production.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 188,650
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Dryland Crop Production
Water Management
Soil Conservation
Drought-Tolerant Crops
Dryland Farming Systems
Conservation Agriculture
Irrigation Management
Dryland Ecology
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Dryland Farming Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Dryland Crop Production Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines dryland crop production, drought-tolerant crops, sorghum, millet, cowpea, pigeon pea, cassava, and producing crops in arid and semi-arid conditions.
Water Management for Dryland Farming
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers water management, water harvesting, deficit irrigation, drip irrigation, soil moisture management, and managing water resources for dryland farming.
Soil Conservation and Fertility in Drylands
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines soil conservation, soil erosion control, terracing, mulching, cover crops, organic matter, soil fertility, and conserving and managing dryland soils.
Conservation Agriculture
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers conservation agriculture, minimum tillage, conservation tillage, cover cropping, crop residues, and sustainable farming practices for dryland environments.
Drought-Tolerant Crop Selection and Breeding
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines drought-tolerant crops, crop selection, crop breeding for drought tolerance, crop adaptation, and selecting and breeding crops for dryland conditions.
Irrigation Management in Drylands
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers irrigation management, irrigation scheduling, efficient irrigation, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and managing irrigation for optimal dryland crop production.
Climate-Smart Agriculture in Drylands
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines climate-smart agriculture, climate adaptation, resilient farming, weather-based decisions, and adapting dryland farming to climate change and variability.
Dryland Ecology and Environmental Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers dryland ecology, dryland ecosystems, arid land ecology, biodiversity, and understanding and managing dryland ecological systems.
Dryland Farming Systems Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines dryland farming systems, farming system design, crop-livestock integration, agroforestry, and designing sustainable dryland farming systems.
Dryland Farming Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for dryland farming, experimental design, data analysis, and conducting dryland farming research, preparing students for their thesis.
Dryland Agricultural Extension and Outreach
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines agricultural extension in drylands, farmer outreach, technology transfer, and delivering extension services to dryland farming communities.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a dryland farming topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and dryland farming knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Dryland Crop Production
Focuses on dryland crop production, drought-tolerant crops, dryland cropping systems, and producing crops sustainably in arid and semi-arid conditions.
Water Management
Examines water management in drylands, water harvesting, deficit irrigation, drip irrigation, and managing water resources for dryland farming.
Conservation Agriculture
Covers conservation agriculture, minimum tillage, mulching, cover crops, soil conservation, and sustainable farming practices for dryland environments.
Drought-Tolerant Crops
Focuses on drought-tolerant crops, sorghum, millet, cowpea, pigeon pea, cassava, and selecting and breeding crops for dryland conditions.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Examines climate-smart agriculture, climate adaptation, resilient farming, and adapting dryland farming to climate change and variability.
Irrigation Management
Covers irrigation management in drylands, irrigation scheduling, efficient irrigation systems, and managing irrigation for optimal dryland crop production.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Dryland Farming programme begins with morning lectures on dryland crop production, water management, or soil conservation. Students engage in theoretical discussions on dryland ecology, conservation agriculture, and sustainable production in arid environments. Dryland crop production sessions cover drought-tolerant crops, sorghum, millet, cowpea, pigeon pea, cassava, and producing crops in arid conditions. Water management sessions examine water harvesting, deficit irrigation, drip irrigation, soil moisture management, and managing water for dryland farming. Soil conservation sessions cover soil erosion control, terracing, mulching, cover crops, organic matter, and conserving dryland soils. Conservation agriculture sessions involve minimum tillage, conservation tillage, cover cropping, crop residues, and sustainable farming practices. Drought-tolerant crop sessions examine crop selection, crop breeding for drought tolerance, crop adaptation, and selecting crops for dryland conditions. Irrigation management sessions cover irrigation scheduling, efficient irrigation, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and managing irrigation for optimal production. Climate-smart agriculture sessions examine climate adaptation, resilient farming, weather-based decisions, and adapting dryland farming to climate change. Dryland ecology sessions cover dryland ecosystems, arid land ecology, biodiversity, and understanding dryland ecological systems. Dryland farming systems sessions involve farming system design, crop-livestock integration, agroforestry, and designing sustainable dryland farming systems. Field work provides hands-on experience in dryland farms, research stations, and arid farming areas. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering dryland farming research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from KALRO researchers, ICARDA scientists, NDMA officials, and dryland farming practitioners provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Egerton University offers both MSc and PhD in Dryland Farming through its established Faculty of Agriculture at Njoro Campus with research facilities.
Kenya's large arid and semi-arid lands, recurring droughts, food security needs, and climate change create moderate demand for qualified dryland farming professionals.
Programme addresses critical national challenges of food security, drought resilience, and climate adaptation in Kenya's drylands.
Career opportunities with KALRO, NDMA, MoALD, ICARDA, FAO, agricultural companies, and NGOs.

Against it

Programme is full-time only at Egerton, which may not accommodate working professionals.
Programme requires agriculture, soil science, or agronomy background, which may exclude some graduates.
Field work in arid and semi-arid areas may be challenging due to harsh conditions and remote locations.
Limited number of institutions offering the programme may restrict geographic access for prospective students.

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 189k

130k at Chuka University189k at Egerton 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

Egerton ~189K/yr (egerton.ac.ke FOA), Chuka 130K/yr (chuka.ac.ke). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KALRO supports dryland farming research. ICARDA provides research funding for dryland agriculture. FAO supports dryland management capacity building. The programme's food security and dryland focus attracts donor and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KALRO Research Grants
ICARDA Research Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate dryland farming studies at recognised universities.
KALRO Research Grants
GrantKsh 400,000Kenyan
KALRO provides research grants for dryland farming research, supporting postgraduate research in drought-tolerant crops and water management.
ICARDA Research Funding
GrantKsh 400,000
ICARDA provides research funding for dryland agriculture research, supporting training and research in dry areas globally.

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 agriculture, agronomy, soil science, horticulture, and environmental science graduates. Two-year full-time programme at Egerton. Egerton requires degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours. Application fee KES 2,000 payable to KCB Account No. 1101906812. Egerton also offers PhD in Dryland Farming.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, field reports, case studies, dryland farming system analysis projects, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering dryland crop production, water management, soil conservation, and conservation agriculture, conducted at end of each semester.
Field and Practical Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of field work, dryland farm assessment, soil assessment, irrigation evaluation, and practical field reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a dryland farming topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and dryland farming knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Egerton University offers MSc and PhD in Dryland Farming through its Faculty of Agriculture at Njoro Campus. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate dryland farming training. KALRO supports dryland agriculture research in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Egerton University offers MSc and PhD in Dryland Farming through its Faculty of Agriculture at Njoro Campus. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate dryland farming training.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)
Professional accreditation
KALRO supports dryland agriculture research in Kenya. Graduates working in agricultural research may collaborate with KALRO on dryland farming research and development.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Dryland Farming Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Develops and implements dryland farming programmes, supporting crop production in arid and semi-arid lands with water-efficient practices.
Agronomist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides agronomic expertise for dryland farming, advising on crop selection, soil management, and production practices in arid areas.
Agricultural Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts dryland farming research, studying drought-tolerant crops, water management, and contributing to dryland agriculture knowledge.
Extension Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Provides extension services to dryland farmers, delivering technical support on conservation agriculture, water management, and drought resilience.
Irrigation Manager
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages irrigation systems in dryland farming, overseeing irrigation design, scheduling, and ensuring efficient water use in arid areas.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches dryland farming and agriculture in universities, conducting research and training future dryland agriculture professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as dryland farming specialists, agronomists, and agricultural researchers in government agencies, research institutions, and agricultural companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GIS Software
SoftwarePrimary
Geographic information system for dryland mapping, soil mapping, land suitability analysis, and spatial analysis of dryland farming systems.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for dryland farming research data analysis, field experiment analysis, and statistical modelling in dryland studies.
CROPWAT
Software
FAO's CROPWAT tool for irrigation scheduling, crop water requirements, and designing irrigation plans for dryland farming.
R Statistical Computing
Software
Open-source statistical computing for dryland farming data analysis, agricultural modelling, and research data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Dryland farming is just about growing crops with less water.
The programme involves complex system design, soil science, water management, conservation agriculture, and climate adaptation, far beyond simply reducing water use.
Farming in drylands is unproductive and not worth studying.
Drylands cover 80% of Kenya's land area and support millions of livelihoods; with proper management, dryland farming can be productive and food-secure.
There is limited demand for dryland farming specialists in Kenya.
Kenya's large arid and semi-arid lands, recurring droughts, food security needs, and climate change create moderate demand for qualified dryland farming professionals.
This programme is only for agriculture graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from agriculture, environmental science, soil science, horticulture, agronomy, and related fields with dryland or crop production background.
Dryland farming is old-fashioned with no technology.
Dryland farming involves modern technologies including precision irrigation, drought-tolerant varieties, digital climate services, and conservation agriculture innovations.
A master's in dryland farming is redundant after a bachelor's in agriculture.
The master's provides specialised dryland knowledge, research capability, and career progression to senior dryland farming, research, and extension positions.