Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Information and Communication Management

The Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Information and Communication Management is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Agricultural Economics. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research on how agricultural information is generated, managed, communicated and utilised for agricultural development. The programme sits at the intersection of information science, communication studies and agricultural economics.

Students engage with advanced topics in agricultural information systems, knowledge management, ICT for agriculture, agricultural communication, data analytics for agriculture, research methods and policy analysis. The curriculum emphasises original research that improves how agricultural data and knowledge are shared among researchers, extension officers, farmers and policy makers.

Kenya's growing digital agriculture ecosystem, including mobile-based extension services, agricultural data platforms and ICT-for-development initiatives, creates demand for experts who can manage and communicate agricultural information effectively. The programme supports Kenya's digital transformation agenda and the modernisation of agricultural information systems.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, e-learning platforms and supervised research. The programme is offered through ODEL (Open, Distance and e-Learning) mode with written self-instruction study modules. Students attend periodic face-to-face sessions and complete coursework through online platforms. Annual fees at the University of Nairobi are approximately KSh 464,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, agricultural information specialists, knowledge management officers, ICT for agriculture researchers and agricultural communication consultants. They work in universities, KALRO, international research organisations, government ministries and agri-tech companies.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in agricultural economics, information science, communication or ICT who wish to contribute original research to agricultural information management.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 464,000
Private, up to: Ksh 168,000
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: 4 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Agricultural Information Systems
Knowledge Management
ICT for Agriculture
Agricultural Communication
Data Analytics for Agriculture
Research Methods
Agricultural Policy Analysis
Information Economics
Digital Extension Platforms
Agricultural Data Management

Modules

8 in the programme

Agricultural Information Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Design and management of agricultural information systems, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Knowledge Management in Agriculture
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Managing and sharing agricultural knowledge across stakeholders, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
ICT for Agricultural Development
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Digital tools and platforms for agricultural information, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Agricultural Communication Strategies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Communication methods for agricultural information dissemination, covering agricultural principles, production technologies, and their application in sustainable farming systems.
Data Analytics for Agriculture
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Statistical and computational methods for agricultural data, covering agricultural principles, production technologies, and their application in sustainable farming systems.
Research Methods
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for information studies, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research.
Departmental Seminars
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research presentations and peer review of doctoral work, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in.
Thesis Research
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Doctoral thesis research and dissertation writing, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation contributing new knowledge to the.

Specialisations

Agricultural Data Analytics
Data science applied to agricultural information
Agricultural Knowledge Management
Managing agricultural research knowledge
Digital Extension Platforms
ICT-based agricultural advisory services
Agricultural Communication
Communication strategies for agricultural development

A day as a student

A typical day involves analysing agricultural data sets, reviewing literature on ICT for agriculture, designing information systems for agricultural knowledge transfer, attending online seminars, meeting with supervisors to discuss thesis progress, and engaging with agri-tech companies and research organisations on research findings.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's digital agriculture ecosystem is growing rapidly
ODEL mode offers flexibility for working professionals
Combines ICT skills with agricultural economics

Against it

Requires competence in both technology and agricultural economics
Limited number of supervisors in this specialised field
ODEL mode requires strong self-discipline and time management

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

Public367k to 464k

367k at Kenyatta University464k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 168k

150k at Mount Kenya University168k 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 464,000/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). KU 367,200/yr (ku.ac.ke). Private: KeMU 168,000, MKU 150,000/yr

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD-AERC offers scholarships for agricultural economics students. RUFORUM provides research grants for agricultural innovation at member universities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD-AERC Scholarship
RUFORUM Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

DAAD-AERC Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Agricultural economics students at AERC network universities
RUFORUM Research Grant
Grant
Agricultural researchers at RUFORUM member universities
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: Holder of relevant Masters degree from University of Nairobi or equivalent from institutions recognised by Senate. Must submit a research proposal.

MSc in Agricultural Economics, Information Science, Communication or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before departmental panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Online assignments, data analysis exercises and seminar presentations

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Agricultural Economics. The programme is offered in ODEL mode with e-learning platforms.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Agricultural Information Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Managing agricultural information systems at KALRO or government
Knowledge Management Officer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 320,000
Managing knowledge systems at international research organisations
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in agricultural economics and information departments
ICT for Agriculture Researcher
High demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Research on digital agriculture at research organisations and agri-tech firms

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, agricultural information specialists, knowledge management officers and ICT for agriculture researchers. They work in universities, KALRO, government and agri-tech companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural information management is just about databases.
The field covers knowledge management, communication strategies, ICT for development and information economics.
There is no demand for agricultural information PhDs.
Kenya's digital agriculture ecosystem and ICT-for-development initiatives create growing demand.
This is an IT degree, not an agriculture degree.
The programme integrates information science with agricultural economics and development.
Agricultural communication is simple extension messaging.
The field involves complex knowledge management, data analytics and multi-stakeholder communication strategies.