The department of Agricultural Science and Technology was established in 2007 under the School of agriculture and Enterprise development and offers degrees leading to Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. The mission of the department is to train and produce scientists equipped with knowledge and multi-disciplinary research skills necessary for devising innovative and practical solutions to multiple and complex challenges in agricultural resources management and in dryland ecosystems. The main objectives of the department are to train and equip students with knowledge and skills to enable them identify, address, evaluate and advise confidently on the contemporary issues and challenges affecting agricultural development. In this regard, we intend to produce broad and focused cadre of competent and dependable managers in animal resource, land, water and soil fertility; trainers in secondary, university and other institutions of higher learning; and researchers in agricultural resources management. Of late there is demand of this cadre in the banking industry.

Teaching Resources
• Science laboratories are available in the department or related departments.
• Internet facilities are available for research, communication and accessing online information resources.
• Teaching methods include lectures, powerpoint presentations, practicals and field work.
• Resources are also sourced from other institutions where Memorandum of understanding has been signed, for example, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

Staff and staff development
The department has a team of experienced full time staff who have competencies in training and research in the following broad areas;
• Soil fertility management,

• Plant Breeding and crop improvement
• Crop Protection
• Crop Production and Horticulture
• Agricultural resources management,
• Agricultural modelling,
• Agro-forestry, Irrigation and Water harvesting management
• Biometry and Research methodologies

Currently the department has a team of well-trained and qualified staff ranging from Lecturer to full Professor all with PhDs.

Research Science and Technology:
Research areas mainly focus on the management of Soil fertility, Soil management, Dryland management, Agro-forestry, Livestock production and fish farming under the current Economic Stimulus Programme. There is also interest in nutrient and crop modeling, and Organic matter management.

Community outreach programmes are key in agriculture for improving our understanding of the communities we serve especially the smallholder farmers of Kenya, and the threats they face. Community outreach means going beyond the university and is about teaching others and providing services to society as a whole rather than just our university fraternity. The department has partnered with organizations around us that are useful in promoting development as sharing and learning from one another. Examples of these are Brookside Dairies and smallholder farmers.

• Prof. Charles K.K. Gachene
• Prof. Charles Muleke Inyagwa
• Dr. Geoffrey Kironchi
• Dr. Josiah Mwivandi Kinama
• Dr. Amos Absalom Omonge Musandu
• Dr. Humphrey Wanjala Nyongesa

• Prof. Waceke Wanjohi
• Prof. Benson Mochoge
• Prof. Fuchaka Waswa
• Prof. Jayne Njeri Mugwe
• Prof. Maina Mwangi
• Prof. Joseph P Onyango Gweyi
• Dr. Benjamin O. Danga
• Dr. Wilson Thagana
• Dr. Ruth Kahutiha Gathu
• Dr. Mukiri Wa Githendu
• Dr. Catherine Muui
• Dr Nicholas Kibet Korir
• Dr. Namikoye Everlyne Samita
• Dr. Anne Njeri Karanja
• Dr. Sylvia Henga
• Dr. Harun Ireri Gitari
• Dr. Mwende Ngie
• Mr Eric Oduor Otieno
• Ms Christine Nakhumicha Wanyonyi

Efforts are made to foster linkages with other stakeholders in an effort to raise our visibility. The networking has also helped in sharing and learning from one another. Table 2 shows some key Institutions we are partnering with.

LIST OF PROGRAMMES IN THE DEPARTMENT
B.Sc. Programmes
1. Bachelor of Science Agricultural Resource Management
2. Bachelor of Science Dry Land Agriculture and Enterprise Development
3. Bachelor of Science Agricultural Education and Extension
4. Bachelor of Science Agriculture
5. Bachelor of Science Crop Improvement & Protection
6. Bachelor of Science Horticulture

Masters Programmes
1. Master of Science Integrated Soil Fertility Management
2. Master of Science Dryland Agriculture
3. Master of Science Land & Water Management
4. Master of Science Plant Breeding
5. Master of Science Agronomy
6. Master of Science Seed Science & Trade
7. Master of Science Horticulture
8. Master of Science Crop Protection
• Entomology Option
• Plant Pathology Option

PhD Programmes
1. PhD Agronomy
2. PhD Plant Breeding
3. PhD Plant Pathology
4. PhD Agricultural Entomology
5. PhD Seed Science & Trade
6. PhD Horticulture
7. PhD Soil Science
8. PhD Integrated Soil Fertility Management
9. PhD Dryland Agriculture
10. PhD Land and Water Management

The department places great importance to agricultural research and development in order to encourage growth of agriculture as the engine of growth of Kenya’s economic development. In this endeavor, efforts are made in development of proposals and applying for donor funds to carry out research that is crucial in generating technologies to improve agricultural production. These projects have also greatly contributed to capacity building in soil Science through training at post graduate level.
Dissemination activities are carried out to encourage clientele to adopt improved agricultural technologies. Staff and students work with smallholder farmers and other stakeholders in the development and dissemination of these technologies in various forums like farmer field days and workshops.

Research Areas
Academic members of staff carry out research activities covering the following broad areas
1. Soil fertility management
2. Animal production and health Management
3. Animal Nutrition and Feeding
4. Aquaculture and Fisheries
5. Agricultural resources management
6. Agricultural modeling
7. Agro-forestry, Irrigation and Water harvesting management
8. Biometry and Research methodologies

Table 1 shows a list of research projects implemented within the department.

>>>>AST Field Attachment Report Writing Guidelines 2019