Harrison Pkoech
Ag. Farm Manager
Message from the Ag. Farm Manager
Welcome to the Laikipia University Farm Department.
The Farm Department hosts the entire Laikipia University Main Campus. Our traditional mandate has been to undertake intensive, environmentally-friendly, and sustainable mixed commercial farming to generate revenue to finance operations, with the surplus used to meet other vital financial needs of the University.
We facilitate comprehensive Field Attachment Programmes not only for Laikipia University (LU) students but also for students from other recognized universities across Kenya. Furthermore, students are regularly offered valuable hand-on opportunities to work in the department under the university's structured Work Study Programme.
In addition to student integration, we provide optimized research plots to Laikipia University staff, students, and external researchers. The department also enters into strategic contract agreements with corporate entities in the agribusiness industry, collaborating on seed bulking, as well as trials for new crop varieties and specialized agrochemicals.
International Collaborations & Grants
Laikipia University & Dairy Training Centre (The Netherlands)
Laikipia University and Dairy Training Centre (DTC, formerly PTC+) of The Netherlands maintain a robust active partnership to implement advanced agricultural methodologies. This partnership secured a prestigious grant from the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) to sponsor Tailor-Made-Training (TMT) for LU trainers of trainers (ToTs).
Farm Scale & Geographic Features
The University Farm operates as a medium-scale mixed enterprise encompassing two distinct land portions totaling 927 acres (375 hectares). It lies directly on the Equator, supporting diverse flora and fauna across elevated peaks and natural water reserves.
Land Utilization Survey
| Utilized Category | Acreage allocation |
|---|---|
| Forests | 179 Acres |
| Arable Land (Crops & Pasture) | 439 Acres |
| Rocky and Steep Areas | 129 Acres |
| Built-up Areas & Road Reserves | 60 Acres |
| Rivers and Dams | 120 Acres |
| Total Integrated Farm Area | 927 Acres |
Active Agricultural Enterprises
To sustain its self-financing mandate and support student training, the Farm manages several highly-productive departments:
Plans for the Future & Expansion Master Plan
🔬 CPTR Practical Demonstrations
Developing specialized demonstration units in the Center for Practical Training and Research (CPTR) to pilot advanced livestock branches, including apiculture, aquaculture, dairy goats, and rabbitry.
🏬 Highway Business & Value Addition Center
Constructing an integrated commercial Business Center along the Nakuru-Nyahururu Highway. This facility will serve as a secure transit hub for tourists, motorists, and travelers while marketing the farm’s value-added products, such as packaged mineral water, fresh dairy products, and agritourism guides.
Agribusiness Opportunities
The Farm Department warmly welcomes local, regional, and foreign strategic partners to explore collaborative training, trials, and research proposals.