Advanced Diploma in Horticulture

Purpose

The purpose of the Advanced Diploma in Horticulture is to provide learners with the knowledge and practical ability in production practices related to horticultural food crops and ornamental plants. The qualification seeks to develop learners to employ innovative approaches and the ability to initiate and respond positively and appropriately to challenges facing the horticultural industry.

This qualification will prepare learners to contribute to the growth and dissemination of research knowledge and the use of the latest research and knowledge bases to respond to problems facing the horticultural industry responsively in a sustainable manner. Learners will acquire skills in calculating seed, fertilizers, plant material including volume of growing medium corresponding to space required to grow the crops and ornamental plants.

It is envisaged that the learners will possess ethical standards, values, and attitudes of the horticultural profession to protect the environment, horticultural industry, and the consumer.

Rationale

The horticultural industry in South Africa has been a steadily growing sector driven by increasing local and global demand for fresh and processed horticultural products and as such, there is an ever-growing demand for a knowledgeable and highly-skilled workforce who will actively participate in producing quality and safe products across a wide variety of horticultural commodities and enterprises. The horticultural industry plays an important role in rural economic growth through increased horticultural production and job creation in various sectors of the industry such as the production of fruit crops, nuts, and vegetables, arboriculture, floriculture, landscape, nursery parks, and gardens.

This qualification aims to develop learners' knowledge and skills to integrate scientific and technical knowledge in various diverse fundamental courses related to horticulture (and problem-solving skills with horticultural crop production and business (economics, management and marketing) to successfully produce, market and manage horticultural enterprises and projects. Also, it develops learners competency in written and oral communication, computer skills, and research methods employed within the horticultural profession.

The qualification was developed in response to norms and standards of Agricultural Training Institutes and was validated by the Curriculum Advisory Committee which is constituted mostly from the horticultural industry. The qualifying learners will have employment opportunities in the horticultural industry as managers and/ or supervisors in farms, nurseries, garden centres and golf courses. Leaners may also practice as assistant researchers, project managers in landscape projects. More importantly, the learners may be self-employed (entrepreneurs). Furthermore, the qualification will provide an opportunity for learners to develop further in a horticultural career.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institute intends to implement the RPL for the learners seeking to enrol. The RPL process will involve the application, assessment, and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal and non-formal learning. RPL can only be implemented against qualifications offered by the institution. The institute intends to exempt learners from certain modules. For exemption of modules, the learner should have gained knowledge in specific areas through informal and non-formal learning, and this knowledge should be closely related to the learning outcomes of the qualification. In this case, the learner' knowledge will be assessed against the learning outcomes of a particular module for recognition. Based on the assessment results, the learner will be able to enrol and may be exempted from some modules. Most importantly, learners need to meet the conditions for the recognition of prior learning for access to the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Diploma in Agriculture, NQF Level 6.

Or

• Diploma in Horticulture, NQF Level 6.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 6 and 7 totalling 124 Credits.

Compulsory Module, NQF Level 6, 12 Credits

• Research Methods, 12 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 7, 100 Credits

• Plant Propagation, 12 Credits.
• Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Crops Production, 12 Credits.
• Advanced Vegetable Crops Production, 12 Credits.
• Advanced Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, 12 Credits.
• Temperate and Berry Tree Production, 12 Credits.
• Pot-Harvest Handling, Physiology and Technology, 12 Credits.
• Landscaping and Ornamental Garden Design, 12 Credits.
• Research Project, 16 Credits.

Elective Modules, NQF Level 7, 12 Credits (Select One Module)

• Advanced Farm Business Management, 12 Credits.
• Advanced Agricultural Extension, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural MIS, GIS and Remote Sensing, 12 Credits.

1. Apply sustainable production practices of horticultural food crops and ornamental plants to optimise productivity and profitability.
2. Demonstrate working knowledge in plant propagation methods and techniques and aftercare practices commonly used in the horticultural and related industries.
3. Demonstrate working knowledge in post-harvest practices commonly used in the horticultural industry to reduce physiological and mechanical losses and to extend the shelf-life of varied horticultural products.
4. Develop a research proposal, execute the research, analyse data and disseminate the findings.
5. Demonstrate knowledge in plans and designs and their interpretation for installation and maintenance of landscape and ornamental gardens.
6. Develop skills in effective communication, creative thinking, analytical ability and problem-solving.
7. Apply GIS to acquire, combine and manipulate data from multiple sources to deal with and solve practical problems.
8. Apply decision-making skills on farm business including planning, analysing the profitability of the farm business and making use of farm resources.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Explain the principles and practices generally employed in the horticultural industry to sustain the productivity and profitability of horticulture crops and ornamental plants.
• Discuss management practices of horticultural crops and ornamental plants using sound methods that are safe for the environment and the consumer.
• Apply integrated approaches to pest, disease and weed management following relevant legislation and industry standards.
• Describe the methods used in managing irrigation water, soil and soil fertility (including the types of fertilisers and soil amendment materials) and their application methods.
• Explain how plant growth environments and plants are manipulated to achieve desired outcomes.
• Interpret and analyse associated with soil and plant nutrition status and apply the recommendations thereof.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the methods used to estimate fruit maturity and crop yields.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Explain the principles of propagation and demonstrate knowledge in techniques commonly employed to propagate horticultural plants.
• Illustrate an aptitude in basic vegetative propagation, sexual propagation and associated treatments for successful propagation of plant materials.
• Evaluate the structures and features of propagation facilities commonly used in the horticultural industry.
• Demonstrate an understanding of management practices of young plants including production plans.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate an understanding of the physiological processes that occur in plants after harvest and how these may affect their shelf-life and quality.
• Explain, analyse and apply post-harvest practices applicable to a wide diversity of horticultural commodities.
• Discuss and apply various post-harvest treatments aimed at reducing losses of crops and ornamental plants.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Collect, synthesize and critically review new information and research data applicable in the horticultural profession.
• Develop a research proposal with explicit rationale, justification and methodology.
• Collect and analyse data using relevant software and interpret and disseminate findings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Explain the principles and process of designing landscapes.
• Demonstrate knowledge on categories of landscapes, the common categories of plants used in landscapes and how plants are selected to fulfil functional and aesthetic purposes.
• Develop a maintenance plan to achieve sustainable management of ornamental gardens.
• Explain and demonstrate knowledge of production requirements estimates.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Demonstrate creative thinking, problem-solving and analytical ability skills through various techniques.
• Demonstrate skills in effective communication through appropriate selection and mix of communication medium (oral presentations, written reports, visual aids, videos).

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Explain the principles and key theoretical components involved in the remote sensing data collection process.
• Generate and critically evaluate GIS and remote sensing outcomes to solve varied production functions.
• Develop and analyse reports on GIS mapping.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Discuss the functions of farm management, strategic farm management, characteristics of decisions, land use and control and principles of human resource management.
• Analyse parametric, break-even and whole-farm budget, gross margins and optimum level with the use of linear programming method.

Integrated Assessment

The assessment shall maintain the dual nature of being formative and summative as follows

• The formative assessment shall be done to provide regular feedback on the performance of the learners, and such assessment will be offered as demanded by learning outcomes;
• A minimum of two summative assessments per semester per module shall be administered, and these shall be weighted at 50% of the summative assessment for each course.

Assessment Methods

• Apart from traditional approaches to assessment, effort shall be made in an endeavour to incorporate new and developing technologies;
• A variety of assessment methods that will be both theoretical and practical will be used. Assessment methods will include written essays, research projects, reports, time-constrained assignments and examinations, class discussions, report, and case study analysis; and
• Each module shall, as far as possible, be assessed using a variety of classroom assessment techniques applicable to learning situations as informed by level descriptors.

Assessment timeframes and frequencies will be advised and jointly acknowledged between the assessor and learners. Communication (feedback) of assessment results shall be done provided in not more than three (3) weeks after the test, assignment, and practical report.