So, still on the question of whether different courses are marketable, today we shall look at general agriculture and the question we want to answer is this: Is general agriculture marketable in Kenya?
So read on if you want to take the course and you’re not sure about where it can take you in terms of opportunities:
Is general agriculture marketable in Kenya?
Well, while the course does not appear to have as many formal jobs as let say ICT courses such as Cyber security, it is worth noting that general agriculture is , in general, a very good course.
Why?
Because food will always be a very important issue when it comes to human beings meaning agriculture professionals will eternally be in demand.
Yeah, food security is crucial and anybody with the skills required to help produce food for humanity should not struggle to find work.
In other words, even if you do not want to start your own commercial farm and make use of your skills to engage in high-value production of food, food producing businesses (read farms) should hire you at some point after you’re through your course.
Problem is, a lot of young Kenyans (students like you) do not fancy agriculture courses since they don’t fancy working in a farm all their life (it’s dirty. Isn’t it?) so they shun the course.
Which is why there are tons of opportunities for people like you who are passionate about pursuing about general agriculture, food production, Agronomy, animal health, crop sciences, and related areas.
And because of shortage of skilled and properly qualified agricultural professionals, the pay can be more than for people who have taken many other seemingly ‘smarter’ courses.
General agriculture salary in Kenya
To give you a clearer picture, somebody with just a certificate in general agriculture in Kenya can earn between Kshs. 26,000.00 per month to Kshs. 86,000.00 depending on your experience and skills.
To reiterate, it is also very easy to venture into profitable self-employment with the course too….you don’t have to wait for someone to hire you.
Which is another big plus of doing this course.
Need we say more?
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What is general agriculture course?
If you do not know, a general agriculture course simply covers myriad basic principles of agriculture(it is not a specialized course, that is why it’s called general).
To be clear, it typically introduces you to essential agricultural topics like:
- Crop production
- Soil science
- Agricultural communication
- Animal production
- Agricultural engineering
- Agricultural economics
- Agricultural marketing
- Agricultural policies
- Agricultural extension
So it is basically a course that gives you a foundation in all the fundamentals of agriculture, as applied to a host of agricultural sector careers.
That makes it a great starting point too for anyone who wants to later on specialize in specific areas of agriculture(crop science, agricultural engineering, animal science, etc.)
What jobs can you do with general agriculture?
A course in general agriculture could unlock the door to a range of jobs in Kenya’s agricultural sector including:
- Extension officer
- Agronomist
- Farm manager
- Agricultural engineer
- Veterinarian
- Agricultural researcher
- Sales representative(for agricultural products)
- Consultant for different agricultural projects
- Trainer in TVET colleges in Kenya (agricultural courses trainer)
Agriculture courses and requirements
Below is a summary of agriculture courses and requirements including general agriculture requirements in Kenya:
Agriculture certificate courses in Kenya
KCSE Mean Grade (Minimum) – D Plain
Cluster requirements- none
Diploma in Agriculture course in Kenya
KCSE Mean Grade (Minimum) – C –
Cluster requirements- none
Degree in general Agriculture in Kenya
There’s no university offering a degree programme in general agriculture in Kenya.
Instead, local universities offer degrees in areas such as:
- Agri Business Management
- Agricultural Economics And Resource Management
- Agricultural Resource Management
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Economics And Marketing
- Agribusiness Management And Marketing
- Agribusiness
ALSO READ:
Degree courses in agriculture in Kenya
Colleges offering general agriculture in Kenya including universities offering agriculture courses in Kenya
Many of the colleges offering agronomist courses in Kenya also offer various other agricultural courses including general agriculture.
Here is a list of a few of them to point you in the right direction:
- BARINGO TECHNICAL COLLEGE- GENERAL AGRICULTURE
- BUKURA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE- AGRICULTURE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- BUNGOMA NORTH TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL COLLEGE
- COAST INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- ELDORET POLYTECHNIC
- FRIENDS COLLEGE KAIMOSI
- GATANGA TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL COLLEGE
- KARUMO TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
- KENYA SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE (Search for Kenya school of agriculture fees structure from their website)
- KITALE NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC
- MASINGA TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL COLLEGE
- MUSAKASA TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
- NAVAKHOLO TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL COLLEGE
- MWEA TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL COLLEGE
- NYAKACH TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL COLLEGE
- NYANDARUA NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC
- RAMOGI INSTITUTE OF ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY
- TANA RIVER TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL COLLEGE
- KAPCHEROP TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL COLLEGE
- KISIWA TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
- LAIKIPIA UNIVERSITY
- MASINDE MULIRO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- MERU UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- MURANG’A UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY TVET INSTITUTE
- RONGO UNIVERSITY
- SOUTH EASTERN KENYA UNIVERSITY
- TURKANA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Is general agriculture marketable in Kenya? Recap
The course is very marketable and there are plenty of openings for graduates of general agriculture from the certificate, diploma, degree, to Masters level.
Also, it is very easy to start profitable self-employment ventures with the course too….you don’t have to wait for someone to hire you.
Which is another big advantage of doing this course.
After all, the old adage “Agriculture is the true backbone of the Kenya economy” remains very accurate
Next we shall look at another question some of you have been asking us: Which course is better in agriculture?
Stay tuned.