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: 

Plan and maintain environmentally sound agricultural processes 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116320  Plan and maintain environmentally sound agricultural 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 4  NQF Level 04  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 be able to identify knowledge processes and patterns of the environment in the region, and will understand the limitations of resources and how their management contributes to sustainable interactive agriculture, using environmental indicators.

Competent learners will be conversant with main agricultural regulations and aspects of safety, providing the environment for the application of quality practices. 

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:
  • "Incorporate basic concepts of sustainable farming systems into practical farming activities", (NQF 3) or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    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 
    Plan and maintain sustainable agricultural processes and/or practices taking into account the four components of the environment. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Components include social, political, biophysical and economic. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Plans to protect the various vegetation types and local animals are implemented. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Patterns of the environment are observed and described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Veld types and their sensitivities are identified and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    An understanding of weather patterns is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Critical species of fauna and flora are identified. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate broad knowledge of the processes of the environment. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Relates to soil, climate, water and natural resources (fauna and flora). 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Wild life corridors are identified and developed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    An understanding of the interactions between eco-systems and agriculture is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    An awareness of the main legal regulations governing agriculture and the environment is demonstrated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Apply practical and efficient natural resource use in an agricultural context. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Relates to soil, climate, water and natural resources (fauna and flora). 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    An understanding of natural resources and their uses is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Poorly used resources (e.g. waste) are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Conventional energy resources are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Limitations to resources are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Possible alternative energy resources are identified and explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Understand sustainable agriculture. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Soil fertility is assessed and problems are remedied by addressing the long-term soil fertility constraints. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Biological pest control and integrated pest management systems are investigated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The different pollination processes are investigated and supported. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Applications of natural fertilisers are developed and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Water conservation methods are investigated and implemented. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Soil conservation methods are investigated and implemented. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Crop rotation and inter-cropping are investigated and implemented. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Rotational veld and pasture management are investigated and implemented. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Identify and use environmental indicators. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Relates to soil, climate, water and natural resources (fauna and flora). 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The signs of land degradation is recognised and remedied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Soil erosion control is observed, interpreted and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Invasion is identified and a control strategy for invasive species is developed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Indicator veld species in relation to natural succession is identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Basic cover is measured and assessed. 


    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 al 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:
  • Communicate with farmers, service providers, researchers, NGO's, clients and market agents.
  • Compile simple reports and write basic business letters.
  • Identify and recognise the ecological, social and economic environment - locally, regionally and internationally (local ecological drivers such as H-cycle, C-cycle, etc., soil diversity, weather and climate patterns, biodiversity, etc).
  • Economically the income sources and cost factors should be recognised - 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.
  • The concept sustainability and its applicability to agriculture and conservation.
  • Recognise the importance of the relatedness between social, ecological and economic environment as well as the identification of risk factors at all levels.
  • Knowledge should be demonstrated on the holistic nature 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 should be 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. This includes the identification of indicators (social, economic, ecological) 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  48979   National Certificate: Animal Production  Level 4  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Fundamental  49009   National Certificate: Plant Production  Level 4  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4  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. Balemi Consulting Pty Ltd 
    2. Boikgantsho Consulting & Events 
    3. Cedara College of Agriculture 
    4. ELSENBURG AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 
    5. Heedmorine Training 
    6. KayDee Project Management Cc 
    7. Leruo ke Matla Training and Enterprise Development Services 
    8. Maishamalema Development Training 
    9. Mananthatshema Skills Dev. Centre 
    10. Matotomana Training & General Trading 
    11. Mogaladi Business Enterprise 
    12. Morwa Agri-development cc 
    13. Mthashana FET College - Vryheid Campus 
    14. Mvelo Consultant 
    15. National Institute For The Deaf - NID 
    16. Resource Consulting Services (PTY) Ltd 
    17. Sekhukhune FET College - Central Office 
    18. Selipha Trading (Pty) Ltd 
    19. Setlakala Business Development 
    20. Suidwes Beleggings Eiendoms Beperk 
    21. The Skills Development Hub (Pty) Ltd 
    22. TPN Training and Recruitment cc 
    23. Tripple R Training Provider 
    24. Vari Holdings (Pty)Ltd 
    25. Westco Agri Training 


    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.