SAQA 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 UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Perform basic routine operations in a defined hydroponic context 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116148  Perform basic routine operations in a defined hydroponic context 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Primary Agriculture 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Primary Agriculture 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 1  NQF Level 01  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A person achieving this unit standard will be able to perform basic routine operations in a defined hydroponic context under close supervision. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
No previous learning is assumed to be in place. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Whilst range statements have been defined generically to include as wide a set of alternatives as possible, all range statements should be interpreted within the specific context of application.

Range statements are neither comprehensive nor necessarily appropriate to all contexts. Alternatives must however be comparable in scope and complexity. These are only as a general guide to scope and complexity of what is required. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Prepare a production area for crop establishment. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Activities / tasks to be performed for preparation include but are not limited to sanitation of the production environment, i.e. cleaning, removing weeds, sterilizing the beds/gullies/bags, etc. Preparation would also entail the laying of plastic to gravel/media in gullies, filling of bags with media and placing them in the production area 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The cleanliness of the production environment is evaluated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The ability to prepare the bags/beds with media is demonstrated. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Establish a hydroponic crop. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Establishing the crop includes removing seedlings/cuttings from seedbeds/trays, transplanting the seedlings/cuttings, appropriate placement of the irrigation into the bags/beds. The fertilization includes but is not limited to spaghetti tubes and leader pipes for beds and drippers. Seedlings and cuttings = propapules. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The ability to successfully remove propapules (without damaging the roots) is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The ability to transplant propapules into beds/bags at predetermined spacing is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The ability to appropriately place irrigation in bags/beds is demonstrated. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Identify the basic differences i.e. hydroponic and conventional (soil) production. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Differences are limited to soil versus growth media, open air versus protective structures. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The ability to distinguish between soil and an artificial growing media is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The ability to distinguish between protected and unprotected production environments is demonstrated. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
The assessment of qualifying learners against this standard should meet the requirements of established assessment principles.

It will be necessary to develop assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the qualifying learners are working. These activities and tools may include an appropriate combination of self-assessment and peer assessment, formative and summative assessment, portfolios and observations etc.

The assessment should ensure that all the specific outcomes; critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge are assessed.

The specific outcomes must be assessed through observation of performance. Supporting evidence should be used to prove competence of specific outcomes only when they are not clearly seen in the actual performance.

Essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in its own right, through oral or written evidence and cannot be assessed only by being observed.

The specific outcomes and essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in relation to each other. If a qualifying learner is able to explain the essential embedded knowledge but is unable to perform the specific outcomes, they should not be assessed as competent. Similarly, if a qualifying learner is able to perform the specific outcomes but is unable to explain or justify their performance in terms of the essential embedded knowledge, then they should not be assessed as competent.

Evidence of the specified critical cross-field outcomes should be found both in performance and in the essential embedded knowledge.

Performance of specific outcomes must actively affirm target groups of qualifying learners, not unfairly discriminate against them. Qualifying learners should be able to justify their performance in terms of these values.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The person is able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of:
  • Basic literacy and numeracy at NQF1 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Problem Solving: relates to specific outcomes:
  • Prepare a production area for crop establishment.
  • Establish a hydroponic crop. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Teamwork: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Self-management: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Interpreting Information: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communication: relates to specific all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Science and Technology: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    The world as a set of related systems: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Self-development: relates to specific all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  48971   National Certificate: Mixed Farming Systems  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Elective  48972   National Certificate: Plant Production  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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. Agricultural Research Council 
    2. Balemi Consulting Pty Ltd 
    3. Barrier Free General Trading CC 
    4. Biofuels Business Incubators NPC 
    5. Bumunhu Services Providers Cc 
    6. Cedara College of Agriculture 
    7. Deloitte 
    8. DEW CRISP PTY LTD 
    9. Dihwai Food Cultural and Agricultural Services 
    10. Dineo Tsa Botshelo Trading Enterprise 
    11. ELSENBURG AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 
    12. Escay Catering and other Services 
    13. Farm for Africa Training and Development 
    14. Food and Trees for Africa 
    15. Fort Cox Agricultural College 
    16. GA Community Care Consultants 
    17. Heedmorine Training 
    18. Hefer Construction 
    19. HYGRO TRAINING COLLEGE (Pty) LTD 
    20. Impact Plus Training Consultants 
    21. Interstate Clearing 092 (Pty) Ltd 
    22. Kgopane Trading Enterprise 
    23. Kimbali Holdings 
    24. KMK Training Services (PTY) Ltd 
    25. Knowledge For Ever 
    26. Leruo ke Matla Training and Enterprise Development Services 
    27. Longmore Training and Developen 
    28. Lovedale TVET College 
    29. Madzivhandila Agricultural College 
    30. Maishamalema Development Training 
    31. Mananthatshema Skills Dev. Centre 
    32. Marang Women in Agric and Development 
    33. Mathapuso Construction and Projects 
    34. Matlharini Multi Centre Skills 
    35. Matotomana Training & General Trading 
    36. Mbimbini Training and Community Development 
    37. Medu Skills Consultants 
    38. Mobile Agri Skills Development and Training NPC 
    39. Mogaladi Business Enterprise 
    40. Montshepetsa Bosui Farming & Training Cnt 
    41. Morwa Agri-development cc 
    42. Mpontshe Training 
    43. Mvelo Consultant 
    44. National Institute For The Deaf - NID 
    45. Ngwato Wa Mphela Agriculture Training Services 
    46. Nkalebetja Agricultural Projects and Management services 
    47. Nophelo Training Centre 
    48. Novi General Services 
    49. Owen Sithole College of Agriculture 
    50. P N K Management Services 
    51. Phepha Consulting Services 
    52. Phill Skills and Development Institute 
    53. Progressive Environmental Projects 
    54. Remoshomong Trading Enterprise 
    55. Retsogile Education and Training 
    56. SBJ Shadikamang Agriculture 
    57. Sekhukhune FET College - Central Office 
    58. Selipha Trading (Pty) Ltd 
    59. Setlakala Business Development 
    60. Seza Bantu Rural Agricultural Projects 
    61. Siyafundisa I Africa 
    62. Siyasanga Training Centre 
    63. Suidwes Beleggings Eiendoms Beperk 
    64. The Skills Development Hub (Pty) Ltd 
    65. Thuto Boshwa Skills Development Services 
    66. Thutong Learning College 
    67. Tinotsile Training and Development 
    68. Tlatlana Events Solution and Communication 
    69. TM Mashwara and Projects 
    70. Tompi Seleka Agricultural College 
    71. TPN Training and Recruitment cc 
    72. Tripple R Training Provider 
    73. Tshenkeng's Consulting 
    74. Ubhaqa Land and Agrarian Reform Agency 
    75. Umfolozi FET College 
    76. Vari Holdings (Pty)Ltd 
    77. Voyano Project Management 
    78. Westco Agri Training 
    79. Working Decisions Cc 


    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.