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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Integrate sustainable systems into planning and management processes 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116387  Integrate sustainable systems into planning and management processes 
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  8 
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 
The learner will understand how to think in terms of sustainable systems thinking, and will integrate a systems approach into planning and management processes. The learner will use these concepts when developing a whole farming system.

Competent learners will be conversant with agricultural regulations and aspects of safety, to provide the environment for the application of quality practices and thus strengthen agricultural practices in general. 

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 unit standard "Plan and maintain environmentally sound agricultural processes" (NQF 4) or equivalent. 

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 
Demonstrate understanding of "hard" (biophysical) and "soft" (human) systems. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
In the context of suitable farming systems:
  • Definitions (biophysical or natural, and human-managed systems).
  • Elements (economy, farm family, animals, plants, soil fauna, minerals).
  • Understanding of dynamics (interactions of elements and systems).
  • Hard and soft systems (biological limitations, management goals). 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The definition of a system is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    In-depth understanding of systems dynamics is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Practical understanding of hard (biophysical) and soft (human) systems, and their application to sustainable development, is shown. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of sustainability as a trade-off between productivity and the conservation of resources. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Definitions of sustainability:
  • Social sustainability (participation, appropriateness and ownership).
  • Economic sustainability (profit, productivity, marketability).
  • Environmental sustainability (biodiversity, conservation, long-term productivity, animal welfare).
  • Political sustainability (key stakeholders and policy-makers).
  • Contexts of legal environment. 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A deep understanding of the links between sustainability and dynamic systems thinking is shown. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Information and feedback from systems monitoring to adaptive management aimed at increasing sustainability are applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The ability to increase awareness of sustainability and systems thinking in agricultural practice, among a wide range of stakeholders is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Familiarity with agricultural and related environmental legislation is shown, and full responsibility is taken for legal implications. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Use the systems approach to design interactive soil, plant and animal management. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Ensure an awareness of:
  • Long term soil fertility.
  • Inter-relations of plant communities and soils.
  • Business plans including human resources and capacity building.
  • Water management and production.
  • Role of animals in farming systems.
  • Practical action plan for implementation (time frame & budgets). 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Strengths and weaknesses regarding internal factors relating to sustainability within farming systems are analysed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Impacts of external opportunities are understood. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The ability to communicate and influence others regarding impacts of long-term internal- and external factors on sustainability is shown. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The ability to develop a strategic management plan is shown. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    An action plan, which accesses resource organisations, is designed. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Monitor and re-evaluate sustainability of whole farming systems. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Develop a plan, which links activities, budgets and strategic objectives to long-term goals of sustainability. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Monitoring systems for crop and animal production, natural resource attributes and social dynamics are designed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The way indicators are identified and verified is understood. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Advanced managerial information is designed and generated (identify gaps and motivate others to apply corrective measures). 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Seasonal outcomes are analysed and applied to long-term strategic interventions aimed at increasing sustainability. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Develop a comprehensive plan for a whole farming system. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Describe a local farming system.
  • Identify indicators and management objectives.
  • Measurement of indicators.
  • Awareness of appropriate strategies.
  • Link social, environmental and economic factors into a plan. 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Several common farming systems and their inter-relatedness are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Timely intervention programmes are designed based on understanding of the progression of seasonal processes in enhancing productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Verifiable indicators are evaluated and appropriate sets of indicators are selected to measure sustainability of a system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    An appropriate plan is drawn up for a given farming situation, which takes environmental, social, economic and legal perspectives into account. 


    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:
  • Communication with farmers, service providers, researchers, NGO's, clients and market agents.
  • Compiling simple reports and writing basic business letters.
  • Identification and recognition of the ecological, social and economic environment - locally, regionally and internationally. This pertains to local ecological drivers such as H-cycle, C-cycle, etc., soil diversity, weather and climate patterns, bio diversity, etc.
  • Recognising the income sources and cost factors economically - local market sources should receive specific attention. The above should be applied to the regional and international environment with specific attention to business and organisations operating and impacting locally.
  • Systems approach to life - definitions of systems like ecosystems, the importance of agriculture as an "open system", the dynamics of role players within these systems.
  • The interrelationships between the various regional and international systems should be completed and acknowledged.
  • Understanding the concept of sustainability and its applicability to agriculture and conservation.
  • Recognising the importance of the relatedness between social, ecological and economic environment as well as the identification of risk factors at all levels.
  • The legal environment within the farming sphere should be understood.
  • Knowledge on the holistic qualification and qualification of the whole farming system. All income sources, cost-factors, human influences and actors should be recognised.
  • The legal environment as well as the economic and biological environment should be recognised in order to be aware of present and potential risks.
  • A system approach used to plan and monitor productivity form level through the acknowledgement of the interrelatedness of ecosystems and its biological actors with the economic and social environments. This knowledge should be recognised within business plans enabling the learner to understand the rationale of a business plan.
  • Awareness and understanding of how to measure the productivity of farming systems should be demonstrated. This includes the identification of indicators (social, economic, ecological) that should be monitored in order to produce timely managerial information in order to plan better. A simple managerial information system should be available in order to make rational decisions at local level. 
    		•

    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 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 
    Use science and technology relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Inter-relatedness of systems 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
    Fundamental  49011   National Diploma: Animal Production  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Fundamental  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.