Master of Science in Agronomy

 

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMMME

The Master of Science in Agronomy programme is anchored on the increasing demand for competent manpower to sustainably intensify food production systems in the advent of climate change and higher input costs while conserving the environment. Therefore, based on this training need, the program envisions better adaptation strategies in crop systems for the provision of adequate food, feed, industrial raw materials and improved livelihoods. This philosophy is line with the University of Nairobi’s philosophy to be “a world-class university committed to scholarly excellence”. In training competent manpower, the programme is aligned to the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS, 2019 to 2029), Kenya’s Vision 2030, Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the global Sustainable Development Goals, as well as other economic blue-prints by applying innovative research and transfer of knowledge to the beneficiaries.

RATIONALE OF THE PROGRAMME

The agriculture sector plays a vital role in Kenya‘s national economic development as a source of livelihood, industrial raw materials and employment. The Kenya government’s ASTGS, which is in line with Vision 2030 seeks to transform agriculture to grow the economy and alleviate poverty. This strategy underpins the need to build capacity that will drive increased crop productivity while managing resources and the environment sustainably. Universities will contribute to the realization of the Country’s development goals such as food security and agro-raw materials by developing curricula that strengthen manpower capacity to meet the needs of the agriculture sector. The major challenge of increasing crop productivity to meet the needs of an increasing population is to do so efficiently while safeguarding the environment as well as crop quality and safety. Crop productivity is primarily influenced by biotic (weeds, insect pests and diseases) and abiotic stresses (such as low soil fertility, drought and heat stress) and the interaction between crop genotypes and the environment. Under these yield-limiting conditions, increasing crop yields while conserving the environment will require multiple skills that enable an agriculturist to integrate knowledge on crop-environment interaction, as well as robust analytical and communication skills

Agronomy was traditionally defined in the context of a speciality area of arable agriculture

emphasizing field crops. While breeders attempt to match varieties to the environment,

agronomists attempt to adapt them to the environment and management. Agronomy,

therefore, is the cornerstone of all crop productivity which must be driven by the necessary

education, training, research and capacity building in light of the following imperatives: use

of improved seed and other inputs, knowledge in plant and cell physiology, management of

rhizosphere dynamics, decision-making related to biological and environmental constraints.

In the changing times, emerging interest in precision agriculture and the sensitivity of

agriculture to climate widens the scope of agronomic education, training and research. For

instance, possible changes of climate and their effects on plants, soil, pests and diseases;

effects on agricultural potential, on production and land use; implications for food security

and adapting to climate change are a few of the emerging concerns for contemporary crop

production. The agronomy discipline is thus called upon to provide capacity that will

produce abundant agronomic products in the 21st Century and beyond.

The programme is thus tailored to meet the needs of a wider public clientele than has

traditionally been the case. It is made more flexible and versatile to allow any course to

be taken in an occasional mode or a carry-over on its own as a unit (or its fraction)

toward the prescribed parts of the programme. Two specializations (one in field crop

production and the other in environmental agronomy) do broaden the programme

horizons as options students may wish to take relative to the prevailing job market

opportunities and the emerging advances in the field of agronomy. More over, the

programme is structured in such a way as to fit more library time, self-study and part-time

learning where full time undertaking is not possible.

The objectives of this programme are therefore: -

(i) To produce graduates with ability to identify research problems, design and execute

research projects aimed at solving the problems within a changing agricultural

environment. At the same time, the training is to update the agronomists with the

latest developments in the field of crop production and/or environmental agronomy.

(ii) To train highly skilled agronomists who will help optimise the country

Mode of Delivery

The programmesare offered through face-to-face, blended learning and Open, Distance and Electronic Learning (ODeL) modes of delivery.

Lectures – mainly delivered via online learning platforms

Practical – delivered via on-campus hands-on sessions as per schedule

Contacts of support persons

 Dean Faculty of Agriculture

 Tel:0204916003

 email address:deanagric@uonbi.ac.ke

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