MSc. Dryland Agro-Pastoral Systems Master/MBA

Agriculture in Kenya‘s Arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) is characterized by Agro-pastoralism. The drylands make upto about 80% of Kenya‘s total land mass and is associated with low and unreliable rainfall, fragile soils and relatively high temperature. The ASALs are yet to be economically exploited for the benefit of local communities and the country at large. There is need to build on human capital as a strategy to harness the resources in the dry areas and therefore the development of this curriculum on Dryland Agro-pastoral Systems. The curriculum will produce graduates with in-depth understanding of dryland ecosystem, biodiversity in the ASALs, community livelihood and socio-cultural system, resources in ASALs, biotic and abiotic challenges, and innovations to harness resources to improve life in the ASALs.
Kenya‘s ASALs is yet to be fully acclaimed as one of the national resources for integration in economic development. This has resulted in low economic growth and higher poverty index being experienced currently. There is need for adequate management of resources in the ASAls to stimulate economic growth, improve livelihood and maintain healthy bio ecological co-existence. Besides, Kenya‘s vision 2030 emphasizes the importance of the arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) as an important component in the economic pillar. The strategy is to utilize some 24 million hectares for livestock production and expand crop production through irrigation on some 9.2 million hectares in the ASAL.The Government plan in ―Strategy for Revitalization of Agriculture for 2004-2014‖ also recognizes the importance of agriculture in national growth and development and commits to expand agriculture production in ASALs through expanding irrigation. These can be realized by investing in a focused training of personnel capable of identifying opportunities and resources for utilization and development in the drylands. The MSc curriculum in Dryland Agro-pastoral Systems is designed to address this need.