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: 

Optimise and integrate various farming systems and trends within related enterprises 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116337  Optimise and integrate various farming systems and trends within related enterprises 
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 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  11 
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 
Qualifying learners are capable of optimising and integrating various farming systems and trends within related enterprises. In addition they will be well positioned to extend their learning and practice into other areas of agriculture, specifically integrated crop production and animal production systems. This training will benefit the profession by equipping learners with adequate skills to have input into the optimisation and integration of farming systems to improve productivity and performance. This unit standard is applicable to all agricultural animals and plant production systems. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
It is assumed that a learner attempting this unit standard will demonstrate competence against the unit standard or equivalent:
  • NQF 4: Implement, evaluate and adjust factors influencing agricultural enterprises. 
    		•

    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 
    Optimise and integrate the natural resources required for the relevant farming systems and enterprises. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Natural resources include but are not limited to soil, water, climate, vegetation, topography and other. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Soil characteristics and soil analysis are optimised and integrated to maintain production within the enterprise or system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Water characteristics and water analysis is evaluated and integrated to maintain production within the enterprise or system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Weather trends must be evaluated and integrated into the farming system or enterprise. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Processes are optimised and maintained according to vegetation potential in the farming system or enterprise. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Plan and optimise infrastructural requirements for the relevant enterprise system. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Infrastructural requirements include but are not limited to fencing, housing, and water supply, electricity, handling facilities, access and other. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Infrastructure for the relevant enterprise or system must be planned and optimised considering the function of the infrastructure. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Required infrastructure must be determined according to need and integrated into the enterprise or system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Relevant regulations and legislation is evaluated and integrated into the planning of infrastructure. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Optimise and maintain stock required for the relevant enterprises. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    All livestock and crops required for the relevant enterprises. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Production deficiencies are determined and maintained to optimise system and enterprise production. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Quality of stock according to the characteristics of specific livestock or crops is considered and optimised. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The need of the livestock and crops must be evaluated and optimised into the enterprise or system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The suitability of resources are optimised and maintained for specific livestock and crop enterprise. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Innovate and plan production systems within relevant enterprises. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    All livestock and crops required for the relevant enterprise. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Production cycle systems are innovated and planned to be integrated into the farming system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Production systems are innovated and planned according to observation reports. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Production records must be planned and maintained for the production system or enterprise. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Production systems or enterprises are optimised and planned according to the evaluation of market information. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Plan and maintain harvest system within relevant farming systems and enterprises. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    All livestock and crops required for the relevant enterprise. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Harvest systems are planned and maintained according to requirements for successful harvesting. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Harvest practices are planned and maintained for the particular system and enterprise. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Good health and hygiene principles for harvesting practices are planned and maintained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Regulations and legislation governing health and hygiene are interpreted and included in the planning. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Products to be harvested must be planned and maintained according to quality standards that are prescribed. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Plan and maintain post harvest systems within relevant farming enterprise. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    All livestock and crops required for the relevant enterprise. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Post harvest systems are planned and maintained according to the requirements for successful harvesting. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Post harvest practices are planned and maintained for the particular system and enterprise. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Good health and hygiene principles for harvesting practices are planned and maintained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Regulations and legislation governing health and hygiene are interpreted and included in the planning. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Products to be harvested must be planned and maintained according to quality standards that are prescribed. 


    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:
  • Role and function of soil and water samples, weather information, vegetation, infrastructure, breed characteristics, production cycles, records, markets, health and hygiene within production systems (agricultural enterprise as a whole).
  • Attributes, characteristics and properties of vegetation, infrastructure, weather, production cycles, markets within production processes.
  • Observation of the effects of weather patterns, soil and water characteristics, market trends, breed and crop characteristics / performance, health and hygiene condition, infrastructural conditions, vegetation quality and quantity influencing production systems e.g. impact of drought, on enterprises.
  • Purpose of vegetation, infrastructure, weather, production cycles, markets within production systems.
  • Implications of ineffective practices on production systems.
  • Production systems within marketing and global environment.
  • Regulations and legislation related to production systems within a global environment e.g. imports/exports.
  • Describing various production processes as an integral part of the production system.
  • Purpose of this training to develop the planning and integration skills of the learner in various enterprises.
  • Procedures, rules and principles are covered related to enterprises, systems and practices. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Problem Solving: relates to all specific outcomes. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Self-development: relates to 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
    Core  63249   National Diploma: Agricultural Extension  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Core  49011   National Diploma: Animal Production  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Core  49010   National Diploma: Plant Production  Level 5  NQF Level 05  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. Suidwes Beleggings Eiendoms Beperk 
    2. The Skills Development Hub (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.