Diploma in Agriculture

Purpose

The Diploma in Agriculture aims to produce learners with the relevant agricultural knowledge and skills focusing on long-term sustainability, research and community development; to train agricultural entrepreneurs (mixed farming) and to train industry managers and extension assistant or officers.

Rationale

The qualification develops skills in agricultural production, marketing, farm planning, production practices, quality management, financial management, crop and animal nutrition, health, harvesting, grading, packaging, storage and processing of produce as a viable and sustainable agricultural business enterprise. This caters for the subtropical region of Northern KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces agro-ecological zone.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The college admits potential learners who are literate and numerate, older than 23 years, with proven relevant experience in agricultural practices into the Diploma in Agriculture. The RPL process is largely for access purposes. The experience is assessed and verified through a structured portfolio of evidence, which is compiled by the learner. The numeracy and literacy (if no proven academic record) is assessed through an admission test. The learners are given credits for the modules that they have been found to be competent through the RPL process. Learners who have been admitted are also able to receive credit for modules already completed elsewhere through the CAT policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• A National Senior Certificate, Level 4, granting access to Diploma studies.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational in Primary Agriculture, Level 4 granting access to Diploma studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5: 120 Credits

• Computer Applications, 8 Credits.
• Principles of Economics, 8 Credits.
• Agricultural Calculations, 8 Credits.
• Communication and Writing skills, 8 Credits.
• Basic Crop Science, 8 Credits.
• Cultivated Pastures, 8 Credits.
• Introduction to Natural Resources, 8 Credits.
• Farm Engineering (Mech), 8 Credits.
• Farm Accounting, 16 Credits.
• Introduction to Crop Production, 16 Credits.
• Introduction to Animal Production, 16 Credits.
• Natural Science, 8 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 70 Credits

• Agricultural Extension, 10 Credits.
• Experiential Training Work Integrated Learning (WIL), 60 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6: 120 Credits

Choose modules to a minimum value of 120 Credits

• Plant Protection, 16 Credits.
• Animal Nutrition, 8 Credits.
• Pig production, 16 Credits.
• Field Crop and Sugarcane Production, 16 Credits.
• Nursery Management, 16 Credits.
• Beef production, 16 Credits.
• Fruit Production/Forestry, 8 Credits.
• Vegetable Production and Hydroponics, 16 Credits.
• Dairy production, 16 Credits.
• Poultry Production, 16 Credits.
• Small stock production, 16 Credits.
• Natural Resource Assessments 2, 8 Credits.
• Financial Business Management, 16 Credits.
• Natural Resource Assessments 1, 8 Credits.
• Advanced Farm Business Management, 16 Credits.
• Farm Engineering (Civil), 8 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7: 50 Credits

• Project Management, 20 Credits.
• Basic Research and Experimental Design, 20 Credits.
• Human Resource Management, 10 Credits.

1. Demonstrate understanding of agricultural information and practices.
2. Develop general management plan.
3. Assess and manage natural resources.
4. Plan selected production system/s.
5. Manage agricultural enterprise practices.
6. Add value and markets the farm business effectively.
7. Manage human resources of the farm.
8. Manage the farm infrastructure and machinery.
9. Manage the external farm environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Identify farming systems in any given area in South Africa.
• Apply adaptive management and responds to new social, technological and environmental developments and issues.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Keep records.
• Determine the feasibility of possible enterprises to make a final decision.
• Process and evaluate records against pre-determined standards.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Conduct an inventory of the critical resources for sustainable farming operations.
• Identify the impact of farmer intervention on the environmental.
• Evaluate land capability using the physical requirements of possible farming enterprises to select those most suitable for a specific enterprise.
• Engage in farm planning to integrate the infrastructure and machinery requirements of the farm as a whole.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Determine the ideal production requirements of a selected production enterprise (health, nutrition, land preparation, harvesting, post harvesting practices, sustainability).
• Implement a production plan (health, nutrition, land preparation, harvesting, post-harvest, chain management, logistics, labour).
• Keep production records.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Monitor and evaluate a production plan against production standards and in response to sustainability indicators.
• Customise a production plan to suit specific farm conditions and production objectives.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Devise marketing plan/ strategy.
• Identify further products for future development.
• Engage in long term financial planning and troubleshooting to ensure the financial sustainability of the enterprise.
• Anticipate external opportunities and threats to the farming business.
• Add value to produce.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Develop human resource development plan (skills development, legislation, performance management, leadership style).

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Identify and classify major infrastructure and machinery requirements at different farming systems in South Africa.
• Determine the major infrastructure and machinery requirements needed for production agriculture.
• Ensure that the farm infrastructure and machinery are maintained at a standard required for sustainable production.
• Understand fluid flow, capacity and pressure.
• Know pipe types, uses, advantages and disadvantages, etc.
• Understand types and uses of pumps. Understand needs and requirements of stock watering systems and be able to calculate water needs.
• Know flow measurement and be able to do corresponding calculations.
• Conduct survey using dumpy level.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Consider legal and social requirements which may affect one's choice of farming enterprise.
• Identify sources of potential collaboration within the surrounding community and organisations.
• Recognise political issues.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment

• Learners will be directly supervised by the Farmer, who uses the daily log sheets and the semester logbook where all activities are recorded in a structured format. The supervisor will sign off the daily log sheets and semester log sheets at the end of the month and semester to provide feedback on the practices undertaken to the learner. This is to guide learning development.
• The lecturers will visit the learner at the farm at least twice in the six month period. They evaluate the learner learning development on site on various aspects of production planning, financial management, practices, animal and crop growth and development as well as quality control.
• Learners will be given feedback of their learning development as observed by the lecturers.
• Site visit reports will be compiled per learner.

Summative Assessment

The following will be used: class tests, assignments, practical evaluation, project and excursion reports, oral presentations, business plan, examinations.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

Learners will be inducted in the WIL programme through a week workshop before they are placed in the farms after registration. Each learner will be given a WIL guideline to take with to the farm for ease of reference with the farmer. The institution, through the WIL Coordinator is responsible for securing farm placements for learner. The learner will sign an agreement with the farm which guides the relations, provisions, conduct and responsibilities for the Institution, learner and the host farmer.