Agriculture

Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture

The Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in sustainable farming systems, natural resource management, and agricultural development. The programme combines sustainable agriculture theory with practical field work, soil management, and farming systems research application.

Core areas include sustainable farming systems, soil fertility management, agroforestry, climate-smart agriculture, crop improvement, livestock sustainability, agricultural policy, food security, water management, 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 Egerton University through the Faculty of Agriculture, Kenyatta University through the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and the University of Embu through the School of Agriculture. All are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in sustainable farming systems, soil fertility, agroforestry, climate-smart agriculture, crop improvement, water management, and food security. The programme includes coursework, examinations, field work, laboratory work, and a supervised research thesis.

Egerton University charges approximately KES 188,650/year (KES 377,300 total) for masters programmes in the Faculty of Agriculture. Kenyatta University charges approximately KES 326,400/year for agriculture masters programmes. University of Embu charges similar fees for MSc in Agroforestry. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in agriculture, environmental science, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as sustainable agriculture specialists, agricultural extension officers, soil fertility managers, agroforestry officers, food security analysts, and lecturers in sustainable agriculture across government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, agricultural companies, and universities.

Skills Required

Sustainable Farming Systems Design
Soil Fertility and Health Management
Agroforestry Systems and Integration
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Adaptation
Crop Improvement and Sustainable Production
Water Management and Conservation
Agricultural Policy and Food Security
Integrated Pest Management
Research Methods in Sustainable Agriculture
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Sustainable Farming Systems Design
Soil Fertility and Health Management
Agroforestry Systems and Integration
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Adaptation
Crop Improvement and Sustainable Production
Water Management and Conservation
Agricultural Policy and Food Security
Integrated Pest Management
Research Methods in Sustainable Agriculture
Thesis Research

Certifications

KALRO Agricultural Certification
FAO Sustainable Agriculture Certification

Specializations

Sustainable Crop Production

Focuses on sustainable crop production, covering cropping systems, conservation agriculture, organic farming, and managing sustainable crop production.

Soil Health and Fertility

Examines soil health and fertility, covering soil management, composting, nutrient cycling, ISFM, and managing soil health.

Agroforestry and Farming Systems

Covers agroforestry and farming systems, covering agroforestry systems, tree-crop integration, and managing agroforestry systems.

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Focuses on climate-smart agriculture, covering adaptation, mitigation, resilience, CSA practices, and managing climate-smart agriculture.

Water and Land Management

Examines water and land management, covering irrigation, water conservation, land use planning, and managing water and land resources.

Food Security and Policy

Covers food security and policy, covering food systems, policy, nutrition, livelihoods, and managing food security programmes.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 326,400
Private, up to: Ksh 210,000
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Sustainable Farming Systems Design
Soil Fertility and Health Management
Agroforestry Systems and Integration
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Adaptation
Crop Improvement and Sustainable Production
Water Management and Conservation
Agricultural Policy and Food Security
Integrated Pest Management
Research Methods in Sustainable Agriculture
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Sustainable Farming Systems and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines cropping systems, conservation agriculture, organic farming, rotation, and managing sustainable crop production.
Soil Fertility and Health Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers soil management, composting, nutrient cycling, ISFM, soil testing, and managing soil health.
Research Methods in Sustainable Agriculture
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, agriculture research methods, and conducting sustainable agriculture research, preparing students for their thesis.
Agroforestry Systems and Integration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines agroforestry systems, tree-crop integration, biodiversity, and managing agroforestry systems.
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Adaptation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers adaptation, mitigation, resilience, CSA practices, and managing climate-smart agriculture.
Crop Improvement and Sustainable Production
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines breeding, varieties, seed systems, pest management, and managing sustainable crop improvement.
Water Management and Conservation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers irrigation, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, drainage, and managing water resources.
Agricultural Policy and Food Security
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines policy, regulation, extension, markets, food systems, and managing agricultural policy and food security.
Integrated Pest Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers IPM, biological control, pesticides, monitoring, and managing pest control sustainably.
Livestock Sustainability and Integration
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines sustainable livestock production, crop-livestock integration, pasture management, and managing livestock sustainability.
GIS for Agricultural Planning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers GIS, remote sensing, land use mapping, spatial analysis, and managing GIS for agricultural planning.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a sustainable agriculture topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agriculture knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Sustainable Crop Production
Focuses on sustainable crop production, covering cropping systems, conservation agriculture, organic farming, and managing sustainable crop production.
Soil Health and Fertility
Examines soil health and fertility, covering soil management, composting, nutrient cycling, ISFM, and managing soil health.
Agroforestry and Farming Systems
Covers agroforestry and farming systems, covering agroforestry systems, tree-crop integration, and managing agroforestry systems.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Focuses on climate-smart agriculture, covering adaptation, mitigation, resilience, CSA practices, and managing climate-smart agriculture.
Water and Land Management
Examines water and land management, covering irrigation, water conservation, land use planning, and managing water and land resources.
Food Security and Policy
Covers food security and policy, covering food systems, policy, nutrition, livelihoods, and managing food security programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Sustainable Agriculture programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, field work, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover sustainable farming systems, soil fertility, agroforestry, and climate-smart agriculture. Sustainable farming systems sessions examine cropping systems, conservation agriculture, organic farming, rotation, and managing sustainable crop production. Soil fertility sessions cover soil management, composting, nutrient cycling, ISFM, soil testing, and managing soil health. Agroforestry sessions cover agroforestry systems, tree-crop integration, biodiversity, and managing agroforestry systems. Climate-smart agriculture sessions cover adaptation, mitigation, resilience, CSA practices, and managing climate-smart agriculture. Crop improvement sessions cover breeding, varieties, seed systems, pest management, and managing sustainable crop improvement. Water management sessions cover irrigation, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, drainage, and managing water resources. Agricultural policy sessions cover policy, regulation, extension, markets, and managing agricultural policy. Food security sessions cover food systems, nutrition, livelihoods, vulnerability, and managing food security. Integrated pest management sessions cover IPM, biological control, pesticides, monitoring, and managing pest control. 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, composting, and analytical instruments. Field work provides hands-on experience with farm trials, crop assessments, soil sampling, and farmer demonstrations. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with GIS, farm planning, composting, and sustainable agriculture tools. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in sustainable 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 sustainable agriculture topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for sustainable agriculture professionals with Kenya's food security challenges, climate change impacts, and agricultural transformation.
Programme offered by three public universities (Egerton, KU, University of Embu), providing institutional choice.
Egerton offers competitive fees at approximately KES 188,650/year (KES 377,300 total) through the Faculty of Agriculture.
Graduates are eligible for KALRO and FAO certifications, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

KU charges significantly higher fees at approximately KES 326,400/year.
No private university confirmed offering a specific MSc in Sustainable Agriculture.
University of Embu specific sustainable agriculture fees not independently verified.
Career opportunities may be concentrated in government and NGOs, 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

Public189k to 326k

189k at Egerton University326k at Kenyatta University

Private195k to 210k

195k at Kabarak University210k 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

Egerton~~189K/yr,KU~~326K/yr(mawese).Priv:Kabarak~195K,MKU unverified

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

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Egerton University Bursary
KU Postgraduate Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

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

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Egerton requires Upper Second in a related first degree, or Lower Second with two years experience. KU requires Upper Second in agriculture or related fields, or Lower Second with Grade B in relevant units or two years experience. University of Embu requires Upper Second in agriculture, forestry, environmental science, or biological sciences, 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 sustainable farming systems, soil fertility, agroforestry, and climate-smart agriculture.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field exercises, laboratory exercises, farm trials, soil analysis, and demonstrating agriculture skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a sustainable 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). Egerton University, Kenyatta University, and University of Embu (all public) offer MSc programmes in sustainable agriculture and related fields. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in sustainable agriculture. Graduates are eligible for KALRO agricultural certification and FAO sustainable agriculture certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Egerton University, Kenyatta University, and University of Embu (all public) offer MSc programmes in sustainable agriculture and related fields. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in sustainable agriculture. Graduates are eligible for KALRO agricultural certification and FAO sustainable agriculture certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages sustainable agriculture programmes, overseeing farming systems, soil health, and managing sustainable agriculture.
Agricultural Extension Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides agricultural extension, overseeing farmer training, advisory, and managing extension services.
Soil Fertility Manager
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages soil fertility programmes, overseeing testing, ISFM, composting, and managing soil health.
Agroforestry Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages agroforestry programmes, overseeing tree-crop integration, biodiversity, and managing agroforestry systems.
Food Security Analyst
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Analyses food security, overseeing assessment, monitoring, vulnerability, and managing food security programmes.
Agriculture Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches sustainable 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 agricultural planning, covering land use mapping, soil mapping, spatial analysis, and managing GIS for agriculture.
STATISTIX
Software
STATISTIX for agricultural data analysis, covering experimental data, field trials, and managing statistical analysis.
DSSAT
Software
DSSAT for crop simulation, covering crop modelling, weather, soil, management, and managing crop simulation.
R Studio
Software
R Studio for data analysis, covering agricultural data, statistical computing, and managing biological data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Sustainable agriculture is just about organic farming.
Sustainable agriculture covers comprehensive farming systems, soil health, water management, agroforestry, climate adaptation, and policy beyond just organic farming.
This programme is only for farmers.
Sustainable agriculture skills are valuable for extension officers, researchers, policy makers, NGO workers, and consultants beyond just farmers.
Soil fertility is just about applying fertiliser.
Soil fertility covers comprehensive soil health, organic matter, nutrient cycling, biological activity, composting, and integrated soil fertility management.
Agroforestry is just about planting trees on farms.
Agroforestry covers comprehensive tree-crop-livestock integration, biodiversity, soil conservation, and ecosystem services.
Climate-smart agriculture is just about drought-resistant crops.
Climate-smart agriculture covers comprehensive adaptation, mitigation, resilience, practices, and information systems.
Food security is just about producing enough food.
Food security covers comprehensive availability, access, utilisation, stability, nutrition, and livelihoods.