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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 
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 



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.