Diploma in Horticulture Program Offered at Egerton University

The three-year course leading to the Diploma in Horticulture from Egerton University is designed to produce graduates having broad practical knowledge and skills for the rapidly growing horticultural industry in Kenya. The practical-oriented training equips students for technical positions in research, extension, and commercial farms, associated service industries and self-employment.

Egerton University is suitable for horticultural training, because it is centrally located between Eldoret and Nairobi airports, and in the Rift Valley province that is suitable for production of horticultural crops.

The horticultural in Kenya is a major contributor to agricultural production and has evolved to be among the top four sectors that earn significant foreign exchange. The sector is rapidly growing and possesses great potential that needs to be fully exploited for increased output and quality of horticultural produce. The realization of this potential requires highly trained technical manpower with practical knowledge and skills in horticulture.
At the end of the Diploma programme at Egerton University, students should be able to:

1. Perceive the importance of horticulture in the national economy with particular reference to the roles of vegetables, fruits, flowers and other ornamental plants in meeting the nutritional needs of the family, aesthetic gratification and foreign exchange earnings;
2. the acquired knowledge and practical skills to improve the production and post-harvest technology of horticultural crops and marketing of the produce;
3. Effectively communicate the acquired knowledge and skills to various individuals and groups interested in improving horticultural crop production;
4. Set up and manage a commercial horticultural enterprise involving the production and marketing of fruits, vegetables, cut-flowers and nursery stock plants in both outdoor and greenhouse environments;
5. Carryout meaningful scientific research on various facets of horticultural and other crop enterprises;
6. Promote environmental and food safety awareness by safe use of pesticides and employing production practices that minimize chemical residues, as well
7. as soil erosion;
8. Utilize the acquired knowledge and skills in gainful self-employment.

Applicants must satisfy the Egerton University minimum entry requirements for a University Diploma of Grade C in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), or equivalent examinations and, in addition, offer passes with at least a:

1. C in English/Kiswahili;
2. C in Maths/Physics or in Agriculture;
3. C+ in Biology or B- in Biological Sciences;
4. C+ in Chemistry or B- in Physical Sciences.

Admission may be granted to outstanding holders of a Certificate in agriculture, or fields related to agriculture from recognized Colleges, who will have passed with at least a credit or its equivalent.

Egerton University minimum entry requirements for Diploma Programmes

The entry requirements set out below are only minimum, and they do not in any way, entitle an applicant to a place at Egerton University. 
Applicants must:

1. Have the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with an average grade 'C' passed at one sitting from at least seven subjects drawn from subject groupings as specified by the Kenya
2. National Examinations Council or equivalent. Provided that candidates with disabilities will be given special consideration with regard to the number of subjects taken at KCSE. OR
3. Hold a certificate from a recognized institution with a 'Credit' pass or higher or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution in the relevant field of specialization, acceptable to Senate AND
4. Meet additional or specific entry requirements as may be specified by the respective Department, Faculty, School or Institute offering the Diploma programme.

The Diploma in horticulture shall normally take three academic years, each with two semesters.

Units to be covered include:

1. Introductory Courses
2. General and Principle Courses
3. Basic Horticultural Courses
4. Vegetable Crops
5. Fruit Crops
6. Post-harvest Management
7. Ornamental Horticulture
8. Experimentation and Research Projects.

Egerton University is the oldest institution of higher learning in Kenya. It was founded as a Farm School in 1939 by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton, a British national who settled in Kenya in the 1920s.

Egerton University has three (3) Campuses and one Campus College.

The main Campus is based at ... read more