Advanced Diploma in Agriculture in Agricultural Production Management

Purpose

The purpose of this Advanced Diploma Agriculture in Agricultural Production Management is to train and equip agriculturalists with the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to contribute to improving managerial capacity in systems, supply chain and operational management related to agricultural production - with a particular focus on innovation for efficiency and adaptive capacity.

The curriculum is structured across five learning spaces in the context of agricultural production management

• Policy: understanding the policy and legal issues and 'boundaries' for action.
• Practice: understanding and applying the most relevant practice.
• Analysis: Understanding the methods and principles of analysis.
• Tools: Understanding and applying the relevant tools.
• Work Integrated Learning: Internship in a relevant workplace with a formal learning programme.

Rationale

The South African agricultural landscape is in flux. It has a long history of inequitable development and millions of land users are effectively marginalised from the mainstream agricultural sector and the social and economic benefits derived therefrom. In the Province, the agricultural sector is the largest user of land, covering approximately 68% of the province. The province is well known for citrus, subtropical fruit, nuts and a variety of vegetables. To this can be added many thousands of hectares of commercial forestry and a substantial productive livestock population.

Together these industries can and do have a significant social, economic and environmental impact. The province is well-positioned to expand its contribution to GDP as well as to the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers. Thus, the presence of a university with agricultural competence can contribute significantly to the wise development of agriculture in the province and the wider South Africa. The qualification will prepare learners to work and contribute to the wider South African economy as well as internationally.

Ensuring production efficiency and adaptability is an important element in the transformation of the agricultural sector in South Africa. In the National Development Plan 2030, Agricultural Science is considered critical to the country's future. The NDP calls for increasing and refocusing investment in research and development for the agricultural sector. One aspect of this is to strengthen the capacity to innovate for production efficiency and adaptability, especially in the light of climate change.

The qualification will equip learners with skills and knowledge that will enable them to deliver on the outcomes identified in the various National strategies for South African Agriculture. They are likewise aligned with the principles and objectives of the National Strategy for Education and Training in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Finally, it will create a pathway for Diploma learners to gain access to the University's planned Honours, Masters and PhD in Agriculture.

Qualifying learners will contribute to strengthening the capacity of the nation to meet its agricultural objectives. They will help meet the demand for professionals who can participate in leading South African agriculture through the complex world of agricultural and rural transformation while at the same time supporting and helping to expand commercial agricultural activity and productivity - with a particular emphasis on innovation in the primary production systems.

The qualification seeks to attract learners who are interested in working with farmers, producers and commodity processors. The qualification will be closely tied to the labour market and technology industry for primary production and product management with the specific aim of providing them with a skill set that will enable them to obtain good-paying jobs or establish consultancies. To do this will require that they develop more than just knowledge and skills relevant to production management, methods and systems - they will need to do this in the context of the wider agricultural development agenda for South Africa. Agencies in the primary production sector need specialists in areas such as technology development, applied technology research, production systems management, and operational and supply chain management. Such specialists will need to be able to work simultaneously in the "for-profit" and the development contexts.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the institution accepts the challenge to assess prior learning that is aligned to qualifications and award credit to promote lifelong learning.

The purpose of the institution's RPL policy is to recognize prior learning to provide for admission to the qualification, grant advanced placement and grant credits for modules using the principles and processes that serve as the basis for RPL practices.

For this qualification, learners with adequate informal and non-formal experiences may seek admission, advanced placement and grant credits for modules using the principles and processes that serve as the basis for RPL practices.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Diploma in Agriculture in Plant Production, NQF Level 6.

Or

• Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 120 Credits

• Advanced Agricultural Production Management Practices: Crops and Horticulture, 30 Credits.
• Advanced Agricultural Production Management Practices: Small and Large Stock, 30 Credits.
• Strategic Management, 15 Credits.
• Operations and Supply Chain Management, 15 Credits.
• Agricultural Production Management Experiential Learning, 30 Credits.

1. Demonstrate integrated knowledge of effective agricultural production management (plants and animals) and of strategic management and the principles and practices of management for development and how these relate to operational and supply chain management.
2. Evaluate types of knowledge and explanations typical within the areas of agricultural, operational management and systems development and management.
3. Show an understanding of a range of methods of enquiry in areas of agricultural production management (related to crop and animal production), and their suitability to specific investigations.
4. Identify, analyse, evaluate, critically reflect on and address complex problems, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments in the context of agricultural production and operational and supply chain management.
5. Take decisions and act ethically and professionally regarding issues that are relevant to agricultural production and operational and supply chain systems, development and management.
6. Develop appropriate processes of information gathering for a given context or use in agricultural production and operational and supply chain systems.
7. Develop and communicate ideas and opinions in well-formed arguments, using appropriate professional and occupational discourse relevant to agricultural production and operational and supply chain systems, development and management.
8. Manage processes in familiar and unfamiliar and variable contexts, recognising that problem solving is context- and system-bound, and does not occur in isolation in situations.
9. Identify, evaluate and address learning needs in a self-directed manner, and facilitate collaborative learning processes particularly in contexts that are relevant to agricultural production and operational and supply chain systems, development and management.
10. Take full responsibility for work, decision-making and use of resources, and limited accountability for the decisions and actions of others in varied or ill-defined contexts including commercial and development agricultural settings.

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

• Incorporate an in-depth knowledge of Agricultural Production Management into all planning projects and assignments.
• Demonstrate a very high level of knowledge and understanding in Agricultural Production Management.
• Review existing agricultural production processes and suggestions made as to how the latest ideas, theories, principles, laws and practices can be incorporated.
• Select and apply theories and processes amongst diverse farms to optimize success.
• Formulate research questions, select appropriate methodologies, collect, analyse and synthesize data, and present data in written and verbal form in project reports.
• Evaluate and critique existing agricultural production processes in terms of ethics.
• Develop plans for different enterprises that take into account issues of ethics.
• Evaluate and use available tools for accessing, processing and managing information appropriately.
• Compare and use available tools for data analysis appropriately to address the question.
• Evaluate and use available tools for written and spoken communication appropriately based on the audience.
• Take a systems approach and successfully link the individual components management plans for Agricultural Production Management.
• Evaluate and critique existing plans in terms of the extent to which they take a holistic approach to Agricultural Production Management techniques.
• Investigate learning needs required for agricultural production and operational and supply chain systems.

Integrated Assessment

The institution understands the central role that assessment plays in education and the need for assessment to be fair, transparent and rigorous. All assessment at this institution is carried out in terms of the institution policy.

Formative and Summative Assessment

Assessment will be primarily formative through tests, assignments, projects and case studies.

Summative assessment will primarily be in the form of written papers that will require learners to demonstrate their capacity to communicate their learning inappropriate language.

Internal and external moderation/examination

A minimum of 50% of the assessment of all modules on the qualification will be subject to external examination.