BRIEF HISTORY OF FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Nairobi started in 1970/1971 with five departments namely agricultural economics, applied plant science, crop production, entomology and soil science. On its inception, 41 students joined the faculty to pursue B.Sc. Agriculture degree.The aim then was to train personnel who were broadly knowledgeable in most aspects of agricultural sciences namely soil, crop and animal production, crop protection, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, rural sociology and extension, range management and food science.In addition to these subjects, basic sciences such as physiology, biochemistry, mathematics, botany and zoology were taught. Farm practise was also a component of this programme.
More degree programes including; B.Sc. Food Science & Technology, B. Sc. Agricultural Engineering and B. Sc. Range Management were mounted. In the current decade, many others have been and continue to be developed in response to client needs.There are at least 8 undergarduate programmes which include: (1) BSc. Agriculture; (2) BSc. Food Science & Technology; (3) BSc. Food Nutrition & Dietetics; (4) BSc. Agribusiness Management; (5) BSc. Agricultural Education and Extension; (6) BSc. Range Management; (7) BSc. Management of Agroecosystem & Environment; and (8) BSc. Horticulture.Postgraduate studies include: 19 Master of science programes; namely: Agric economics, Applied Economics, Agriculture information & Communication management, Agricultural Resource Management, Range Management, Land and Water, Soil Science, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant breeding, Crop Protection, Plant Pathology, Seed Science and Technology, Applied Human Nutrition, Food Science & Technology, Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Animal Genetics and Breeding, Livestock production Systems and Poultry Sciences. In addition the faculty offers PhD programmes in line with the masters programes.
The programmes are housed in 5 departments; namely: The Plant Science & Crop Protection (PS&CP), Land Agricultural Resources Management & Agricultural technology (LARMAT), Food Science, Nutrition & Technology (FSNT), Agricultural Economics and Animal production (shared with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine). Currently most of the undergraduate and masters courses are offered through face to face mode, however, the faculty is uploading many to be offered through open distance and electronic learning and especially through through electronic learning platforms.
The wide spectrum confers a tremendous faculty/departmental competitive advantage toward teaching and learning, scholarly information generation through research and sharing through scientific information management and exchange besdes innovation devevelopment.
The main employer for these graduates has been the public sector specifically the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Cooperative Development. A few graduates have been employed by government Parastatal boards and financial institutions such as Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), National Bank of Kenya, Kenya Commercial Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank. A small proportion of these graduates is employed in the private sector such as the agro-chemical companies, feed and food processing companies, agricultural farm/estates, agricultural commodity institutes (Tea and Coffee Research Foundations).
LIST OF DEANS
- Prof. T.R. Odhiambo. 1970-1971 Renowned African Scientist of the last century
- Prof. R.B Contant 1971-1972 Retired at ISNAR
- Prof. R.S. Musangi 1972-1976 Former VC Egerton University served on many international agricultural science boards
- Prof. C.N. Karue 1976-1980 ICRAF
- Prof. D.N. Ngugi 1980-1984
- Prof S.O. Keya 1984-1988 Former VC Moi University
- Prof. D.N. Mukunya 1988-1993 Former principal C.A.V.S.
- Prof. Kimani Waithaka 1993-1997
- Prof. J.K. Imungi 1998-2003
- Prof. A.W. Mwang’ombe 2003-2005 Former principal C.A.V.S
11.Prof. J.K. Nderitu 2006-2010 DVC Research Mount Kenya University
- Prof. S.I. Shibairo 2011- 2013
- Prof. N.R. Kinuthia 2016
- Prof.G.Chemining'wa June 2018- March 2020
- Prof. M.Nyangito 2021- Present
HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME MILESTONES/ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
- 1969. The BSc. Agriculture curriculum developed
- 1970 completion of construction of faculty of agriculture building
- 1970/71. The first batch of students were admitted to pursue BSc. Agriculture
- In response to the need for slightly more specialized graduates in various disciplines of agriculture, the BS.c Agriculture curriculum was revised in the mid 1970’s. This resulted in various degree programmes in the Faculty of Agriculture namely; BSc. Food Science and Technology, BSc. Forestry, BSc. Range Management in addition to BSc. Agriculture. Later BSc. Agricultural Engineering was introduced.
- Majority of the current MSc. Programmes were initiated between 1974 and 1978 to meet the demand for highly trained specialists to serve in various sectors of agriculture. For instance MSc. Plant Pathology was demand-driven, where the Ministry of Agriculture required plant pathologists to serve in various research institutes. The MSc. Applied Human Nutrition and Range Management were initiated as regional programmes to train personnel from sub-Saharan countries and have played this role effectively. The other MSc. Programmes in earlier times trained personnel from both Kenya and Eastern and Central Africa.
- 1980. Completion of construction of LARMAT and Library
- 2009. First programe offered in ODeL, MSc. Crop Protection, rolleld out 2009. Completion of 8-4-4 building
- August 2012 launch of Faculty of Agriculture Alummni Chapter of the University of Nairobi
