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:

Control weeds

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12623	Control weeds
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 2	NQF Level 02	7
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 that has completed this Unit Standard will be able to control weeds. The learner will be able to

Explain the reasons for controlling weeds
Identify and classify weeds
Decide on what methods of weed control to use

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

No prior learning is assumed to be in place

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

N/A

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Explain the reasons for weed control.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Learner to explain the needs of any plant including weeds

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Carbon dioxide.
Water, light, warmth and nutrients

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Learner to explain the effect weeds has on a crop

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Water, sunlight, nutrients, warmth
Weeds harbour insects and diseases
Weeds can excrete damaging chemicals into the soil: it can hinder mechanical operations; impair movement of water in irrigation channels; can act as fire agents

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Identify and classify weeds.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The term"weeds" explained

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Weeds classified according to life cycles
Trainee to provide examples of types of weeds

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Annuals, biennials, perennials

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Weeds classified according to appearance
Trainee to provide examples of types of weeds

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Broadleaf, grasses and sedges

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Explain persistence of weeds.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Viability of weeds explained

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Dispersal ability of weeds explained

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Quantities of seed produced explained

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Limited predators explained

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Demonstrate methods of weed control.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Preventative weed control demonstrated

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Reasons and methods used

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Physical weed control demonstrated

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Exclude water and light from weeds e.g. trash blanket

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Mechanical weed control demonstrated

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Hand weeding, hand hoeing, animal or tractor drawn cultivators

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5

Demonstrate use of chemicals to control weeds.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Chemical weed control compared with mechanical weed control

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Advantages and disadvantages: Cost, size and types of weeds, season

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Factors having an effect on chemical weed control explained

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Season, dampness of soil, rain, size of weeds

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Safety precautions to be taken when working with herbicides demonstrated

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Act OHS

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6

Explain what factors have an effect on the performance of chemical weed control.

OUTCOME RANGE

Reasons for poor weed control explained

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Reasons for poor weed control explained

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Time of application, climatic conditions, soil conditions, mixture, type of chemical used, faulty or wrong spraying equipment used

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Reasons for herbicide damage explained

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Herbicide selected, rate of application, over-application, windy conditions, faulty or wrong spraying equipment

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 development assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which 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 be 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 and written evidence. It cannot be assessed by observation only.
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, then 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, 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.

1 Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
2. 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.
3 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

1. Relationship between weed control and crop production
2. Importance of having a weed control programme
1. Value of chemical control of weeds
2. Dangers attached to working with chemicals
3. Legal requirements when working with chemicals
4. Dangers attached to wind drift of chemicals
5. Importance of maintaining herbicide application equipment.

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

The learner will be able to identify and solve problems during the process

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

The learner will be able to organise and manage himself and his activities responsibly and effectively

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

The learner will be able to collect, analyse and critically evaluate information

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

The learner will communicate effectively when reporting on work matters

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

The learner will use science and technology effectively and critically (showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others)

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING

The learner will demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems

UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA

Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

UNIT STANDARD NOTES

1. Herbicides and weed control chemicals are used as synonymous
2. OHS Act refers to Occupational Health and Safety Act.

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Elective	20288	National Certificate: Farming	Level 2	NQF Level 02	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.	Hot To Go Training College and Services
2.	In House Media Instruction
3.	Mananthatshema Skills Dev. Centre
4.	Mbimbini Training and Community Development
5.	Phezukomkhono Training Services
6.	Setlakala Business Development
7.	Shukela Training Centre
8.	Siyasanga Training Centre