Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Management

Purpose

The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide learners with specialised knowledge and skills in the areas of economics and management principles that used in the production, transformation and marketing of food and other agricultural products. These principles are used to produce and add value to high-quality agricultural products so that these products have economic, aesthetic, social and cultural value. The qualifying learners will be exposed to and acquire skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes relevant to agricultural production.

Qualifying learners with this skill may be employed by Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry as well as Land Reform Department to play a major role in providing advisory services in agricultural management to land reform beneficiaries in the country to improve productivity on their various agricultural undertakings.

Rationale

The South African government's agricultural development programme is driven by successful agricultural projects. Many agricultural projects under the government' agricultural programme has failed mainly due to lack of agricultural management skills on the part of both farmers and implementing staff usually extension personnel from the department of agriculture. This situation is aggravated by a lack of skilled South African citizens especially from the previously disadvantaged communities to provide the necessary support services for the projects. The need for effective and efficient planning, organising, implementation and control of the country's scarce agricultural resources in the various crops and livestock production activities cannot be over-emphasised. Therefore, there is a need to develop skilled people in agricultural management to ensure the relevance of the discipline in improving the agricultural sector's development to ensure both national and household food security and sustainable environment.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)'s has initiated several programmes that are meant to contribute positively to food security in the country. Skilled practitioners in Agricultural Management are needed in the industry to address its challenges. This qualification aims to produce learners that are aware of these issues and have the necessary skills.

Agricultural Management skilled personnel are among the scarce skills areas in the country. The national drive to improve agricultural productivity among smallholder, emerging commercial farmers and land reform beneficiaries will also contribute to an increase in demand for training of learners and officials in Agricultural Departments contributing towards improving people's household food security and the general quality of life and sustainable agricultural development.

Therefore, the rationale for this scarce skill qualification is to provide learners with specialised knowledge and skills in the areas of economics and management principles used in the production, transformation and marketing of food and other agricultural products. These principles are used to produce and add value to high-quality agricultural products so that these products have economic, aesthetic, social and cultural value.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

In addition to institution formal admission pathways, the institution also recognises prior learning which may provide opportunities for admission. All admission through RPL must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the RPL Policy, RPL procedures manual and Admission Policy.

Entry Requirements

• Diploma in Agricultural Management, NQF Level 6.

Or

• National Diploma in Agriculture or relevant field at NQF Level 6.

This qualification comprises elective and compulsory modules at NQF Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 96 Credits

• Agricultural and Rural Development, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural Project Analysis, 12 Credits.
• Research Proposal, 12 Credits.
• Participatory Approaches in Extension, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural Rural Finance, 12 Credits.
• Business management IIIA, 12 Credits.
• Environmental Awareness and Responsibility, 12 Credits.
• Mini Agricultural Project and Seminar, 12 Credits.

Elective Modules, 24 Credits (Choose two)

• Ruminant Production, 12 Credits.
• Monogastric Production, 12 Credits.
• Specialised Crop Production A, 12 Credits.
• Specialised Crop Production B, 12 Credits.

1. Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.
2. Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation and community.
3. Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
4. Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information. Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and language skills in the modes of oral or written presentation.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation, and showing responsibility towards the environment and the health of others.
6. Developing entrepreneurial opportunities.

Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manner to the Exit Level Outcomes

• Apply the principles of creative and critical thinking to solve complex problems while managing agricultural projects, contracts and other business activities.
• Provide opportunities for learners to work as a team on activities and projects.
• Work on projects that involve independent collecting, analysing, validating, processing and organising of information from multiple sources.
• Communicate findings using appropriate communication tools, academic language and terminology.
• Integrate principles from a variety of sciences and technologies as well as legal requirements to emphasise the relationships between the environment, land and the needs of the community and industry.
• Demonstrate project, contract and business management skills necessary to manage an agribusiness.

Integrated Assessment

To award the qualification, a qualifying learner must have successfully achieved the outcomes of each of the compulsory/core modules that constitute the qualification.

Evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills, attitudes and expertise) and of the learner's ability to achieve the purpose of the qualification as a whole at the time that the qualification is awarded is done by means of using comprehensive and integrated assessment (constituting a range of formative and summative assessments). Continuous formative and summative assessment methods are beingused in the form of written assignments and exams.

Formative and summative assessment will be conducted within the guidelines of the institution's Assessment Policy. The learner's summative assessment mark will comprise a year gained from the specified number of compulsory assignments and a written examination in each module.