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All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: |
National Diploma: Plant Production |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
49010 | National Diploma: Plant Production | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
SGB Primary Agriculture | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
AgriSETA - Agriculture SETA | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
National Diploma | Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation | Primary Agriculture | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 240 | Level 5 | NQF Level 05 | Regular-Unit Stds Based |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Reregistered | SAQA 9900/00 | 2018-07-01 | 2023-06-30 | |
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
2024-06-30 | 2028-06-30 |
In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise. |
This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
The purpose of this qualification is to allow Junior Farm Managers to progress towards a Farm Manager position with specific reference to Plant Production. The contexualised purpose and usage of the qualification is as follows:
Rationale: The range of typical learners that will enter this qualification will vary and includes: The learner will engage in farm management and operational activities relevant to Plant Production. Requests and expressions of need for this qualification, coming from the broad, but also specific farming communities (Plant Production) forms the basis for the development of this qualification. This qualification will form the basis for learners to extend their learning into more specialised areas of plant production and management and provides the basis of the establishment of sustainable farming operations through the inclusion of a wide spectrum of competencies required by farmers in South Africa. Whilst technical production orientated competencies are ensured, other aspects such as agri-business and good agricultural practices are included in the range of competencies required by farmers in order to enable them to strive towards agricultural management standards and practices at higher levels. Competent qualifying learners in this qualification will oversee quality agricultural products in Plant Production whereby enhancing the overall agricultural process and gain opportunities to access local, national and international agricultural markets. |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
It is assumed that a learner entering a programme leading to this qualification has achieved numeracy, literacy and communication equivalent to NQF 4 and technical skills pertaining to agricultural activities equivalent to NQF 4.
Recognition of prior learning: This qualification may be achieved in part or in whole through the recognition of prior learning. Credit will be given to learning, which has already been acquired, through the appropriate process of assessment. For example: Any learner wishing to be directly assessed may arrange to do so, without attending further training or education. The assessor and learner will decide together on the most appropriate assessment route to take. |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
Fundamental
Core Elective |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
Exit Level Outcomes are divided into four categories of competencies, namely:
Fundamental Competencies: 1. Apply communication skills in an agricultural environment. 2. Apply mathematical calculations within the agricultural environment. 3. Develop a data collection plan in the agricultural sector. 4. Integrate sustainable systems thinking into planning and management processes. Agri-business: 5. Control an agricultural input chain. 6. Develop a strategic plan for agri-processing activities. 7. Describe the integration of the marketing component as a part of the total agri-business 8. Analyse and interpret financial information in an agri-business 9. Demonstrate the ability to optimise and integrate farming systems. Agricultural Practices: 10. Ensure sound utilisation of agricultural resources. 11. Describe the process of optimisation of water quality in an agricultural production system. 12. Develop, implement and optimise a management system for food safety and quality practices in an agricultural supply chain. 13. Incorporate an understanding of the importance of natural resource management in relation to agricultural practices into the design of a natural resource management plan of the farm in relation to area wide planning and when participating in area wide planning and local government structures and policies. 14. Assist in determining the most appropriate and sustainable land-use for different parts of the land, supervise the implementation and maintenance of the selected infrastructure and maintain the most appropriate land-use on a farm by continuously assessing the natural resource base. Plant Production: 15. Describe the basic biochemistry involved in the physiological processes of a plant. 16. Develop a soil fertility and plant nutrition plan. 17. Plants are propagated in any production system. 18. Implement and co-ordinate different harvesting plans 19. Identify, monitor and control pests, monitor beneficiall arthropods, plant disease symptoms and weeds in a responsible manner by applying Integrated Pest Management Principles to conserve the environment. 20. Develop a plant manipulation management plan and manage its implementation to maximise growth and yield. |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
Fundamental Competencies:
1. 2. 3. 4. Agri-business: 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Agricultural Practices: 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Plant Production: 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. NOTE: Assessment should be specific to the area of operation (i.e. Either horticulture or agronomy including but not limited to arable and/or dry land production). Integrated Assessment: Integrated assessment at the level of the qualification provides an opportunity for learners to show that they are able to integrate concepts, ideas and actions across unit standards to achieve competence that is relevant and coherent in relation to the purpose of the qualification. Integrated assessment must judge the quality of the observable performance, but also the quality of the thinking that lies behind it. Assessment tools must encourage learners to give an account of the thinking and decision-making that underpin their demonstrated performance. Some assessment practices will be of a more practical nature while others will be of a more theoretical nature. The ratio between action and interpretation is not fixed, but varies according to the type and level of qualification. A broad range of task-orientated and theoretical assessment tools may be used, with the distinction between practical knowledge and disciplinary knowledge maintained so that each takes its rightful place. Generic nature of the unit standards and the context of assessment: Because of the diverse nature of the primary agricultural sector, a generic approach to developing the unit standards has been adopted. This resulted in generic unit standards which should be contextualised within a specific area of operation, a specific agricultural commodity or specific agricultural system. Assessment therefore, should not be divorced from the context of application. All assessment tools, such as guides as well as the interpretation of unit standards and specifically range statements, should be contextualised within a specific agricultural commodity and/or system. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
In the case of the primary agriculture context it is difficult to compare the qualification and unit standards against similar international qualifications due to the vast differences in levels of mechanization and literacy of farm operators. It should also be noted that climatic and market conditions differ considerably between South Africa and other countries and the variety in commodities is therefore significant.
This qualification and associated unit standards have been evaluated against comparable qualifications and unit standards of the following Qualifications Authorities: During this comparison the following was found: Australian AQF: This qualification is comparable to an AQF Diploma in Agriculture (General cross-sector qualification) in a plant production context. Packaging of the AQF qualification reflects the need for sector specific content of a qualification to remain flexible, a quality that has also been captured in this qualification. The AQF qualification requires the inclusion of Units of Competency, similar to the unit standards reflected in the South African qualification. It should however be noted that the qualification of the AQF contains considerably more Elective type Units of Competency since these units have been developed for specific sub-fields. In the case of this qualification a more generic approach have been followed, allowing contexualisation of fewer unit standards across a wide range of sub-fields. It could be concluded that there are numerous similarities between the Units of Competency and the Unit Standards reflected in the SA qualification covering similar sub-fields. New Zealand NQF: This qualification is partly comparable to a NZNQF National Diploma in Agribusiness Management (Level 5) in a plant production context as well as with a National Diploma in Horticulture (Level 6). It should be noted that the NZQF qualification has been developed for a specific sub-field of specialization whilst a more generic approach is taken in this qualification allowing for contexualisation of the qualification across a wider range of sub-fields. In the NZQF qualification focus is given to local conditions, practices and approaches to agriculture whilst this qualification focuses on agriculture within a South African context. British NVQ: This qualification is comparable with the BTEC National Award/Diploma in Agriculture courses. Furthermore, input to the development of this qualification has been compared against international standards and qualifications and is evidenced in the following: |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
A learner will be able to progress horizontally from one category to another, namely small stock, large stock or pig production, etc. (Please refer to the list mentioned under "Areas of Specialisation") He/she will be able to do this without re-doing the whole qualification, but by only completing the necessary elective unit standards.
Furthermore, the learner will be able to progress horizontally to the following qualifications: This qualification allows access to the agricultural sector (refer to the SGB's brief and matrix) and gives access to the relevant agricultural qualification at NQF 6. In terms of competencies, the learner will progress from farming operation skills to basic managerial skills to managerial skills. The scope of practice will also increase. The learner will be able to articulate with other occupations within the agricultural pharmaceutical operations such as laboratory assistant, assistance in the marketing and selling of agricultural pharmaceutical products and fertilisers. The learner will also be able to move to the secondary agricultural field. |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
Therefore anyone wishing to be assessed against this qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution which is accredited by the relevant ETQA. |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
Assessors need:
|
REREGISTRATION HISTORY |
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. |
NOTES |
As per the SAQA decision to re-register all provider-based qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework that meet the criteria for re-registration, this qualification has been re-registered from 1 July 2018. Areas of specialisation of the qualification in Plant Production include but are not limited to:
|
UNIT STANDARDS: |
ID | UNIT STANDARD TITLE | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | CREDITS | |
Core | 116428 | Analyse and interpret the financial statements and physical records in an agri-business to generate managerial information | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 11 |
Core | 116429 | Apply integrated pest management principles | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 10 |
Core | 116431 | Describe biological processes in plant physiology | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 9 |
Core | 116425 | Design a natural resource management plan | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 8 |
Core | 116426 | Develop a production and strategic plan for the agricultural business | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 11 |
Core | 116427 | Develop a propagation plan for any agricultural production system | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 9 |
Core | 116419 | Develop and implement a food safety and quality management system in an agricultural supply chain | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 7 |
Core | 116409 | Develop and implement plant manipulation methods | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 8 |
Core | 116414 | Develop suitable irrigation systems | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 10 |
Core | 116394 | Implement and manage human resource and labour relations policies and acts | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 9 |
Core | 10050 | Integrate marketing plans with business process | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Core | 116382 | Manage an input chain | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Core | 116384 | Manage and control resources in a sustainable manner | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 5 |
Core | 116371 | Manage soil systems | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 10 |
Core | 116373 | Manage the harvesting process of agricultural crops | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 10 |
Core | 116337 | Optimise and integrate various farming systems and trends within related enterprises | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 11 |
Core | 116369 | Optimise water quality | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Core | 116324 | Plan a farm and select a site | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 9 |
Fundamental | 8974 | Engage in sustained oral communication and evaluate spoken texts | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 5 |
Fundamental | 12417 | Measure, estimate & calculate physical quantities & explore, critique & prove geometrical relationships in 2 and 3 dimensional space in the life and workplace of adult with increasing responsibilities | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 4 |
Fundamental | 8975 | Read analyse and respond to a variety of texts | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 5 |
Fundamental | 7466 | Represent and operate on complex numbers in non-trivial situations | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 2 |
Fundamental | 7483 | Solve problems involving sequences and series in real and simulated situations | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 2 |
Fundamental | 8979 | Use language and communication in occupational learning programmes | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 5 |
Fundamental | 7468 | Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business, national and international issues | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 6 |
Fundamental | 7470 | Work with a wide range of patterns and inverses of functions and solve related problems | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 6 |
Fundamental | 8976 | Write for a wide range of contexts | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 5 |
Fundamental | 116412 | Develop and manage a data collection plan to support an agricultural enterprise | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 4 |
Fundamental | 116387 | Integrate sustainable systems into planning and management processes | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 8 |
Elective | 116398 | Use a Graphical User Interface (GUI)-based word processor to create and edit documents | Level 1 | NQF Level 01 | 4 |
Elective | 116405 | Develop, implement and manage a permaculture site design | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 10 |
Elective | 116383 | Manage a hydroponic production unit | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 10 |
Elective | 116328 | The effective and responsible arial application of agrochemical products | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 14 |
Elective | 116327 | The optimisation of agri / ecotourism strenghts and opportunities and negation of threats and weaknesses | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Elective | 116400 | Effective and responsible advice, recommendation and sale of agrochemical products | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 12 |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
NONE |
PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here. |
1. | Ndizanathi Projects |
2. | Univen Continuing Education Pty Ltd |
All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |