Diploma in Agriculture

Purpose

The purpose of the Diploma in Agriculture is to produce a solid grounding in principles and practices of producing crops and livestock for commercial purposes, primarily, under water-stressed regions. This qualification is structured as a comprehensive introduction to mixed farming which permits learners to emerge as general agriculturalists who are well equipped to become agricultural entrepreneurs or enter postgraduate studies in any sub-disciplines in agriculture. The institution's approach is to ensure that learners do not specialise too early in their academic orientation but have sufficient depth of foundational knowledge to develop as specialists more competently through practice and or further studies.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Apply entrepreneurial principles in different businesses along the agricultural value chain.
• Select, plan, implement and manage agricultural production systems in a sustainable manner to optimize economic return.
• Demonstrate the ability to follow a systematic approach to making decisions regarding sustainable land use and related matters under the harsh realities of climate change.
• Select, implement, and manage relevant farm infrastructure and appropriate mechanization systems.

Rationale

Two of the major South African rivers - the Vaal and the Orange - find confluence and flow through the Northern Cape. These rivers and their local watershed tributaries allow for corridors of agronomic and horticultural crop production, in an otherwise largely arid landscape that is better suited to livestock production. Agricultural activity is one of the major contributing sectors in the province and accounts for the largest sectorial employment, even though mining is the larger contributor to the gross domestic product in Rand-value terms.

On a proportional basis, the largest provincial employment in agriculture in South Africa is in the Northern Cape. While the average employment in agriculture in South Africa is around 6%, the average population employed in agriculture in the Northern Cape is around 15% (StatSA Data, 2017). Employment levels in the Northern Cape show significant seasonal variation, with high levels of employment in the harvesting and planting seasons (Quarter 4 and Quarter 1). The large fluctuations in employment levels in the Northern Cape are also an artefact of the small population of the province. The province, therefore, faces the important challenge of providing more sustained employment and income to people who have only seasonal income and form a significant proportion of the employed adults in the region. Expanding the primary and downstream beneficiation economic activities of the agriculture sector is seen as a viable strategy for responding to this challenge. Appropriate local education and training will be essential for the success of such a strategy.

The possible effects of climate change on arid regions and our responses to these impacts from a food security perspective are of particular interest as an academic and intellectual development project for a university and are also of global significance. The institution is uniquely positioned to engage with the difficult questions of the intersections between climate change and food security in its teaching, research, and community engagement activities. Therefore, it sees this as an intellectually valuable area of academic development that responds to regional concerns while contributing to a global understanding of a serious future human development problem. The institution sees the concerns of Agricultural Development under Water-stressed conditions as one of its long-term niche academic activities around which the academic reputation and character of the University will be developed.

The qualification is closely tied to the labour market for primary production and product management with the specific aim of providing qualifying learners with a skill set that will enable them to obtain meaningful employment.

The fields of study and areas of specialisation have been preliminarily identified as pertinent to the university, based on the provincial growth and development strategy, consultation with stakeholders during the feasibility study process, and early discussions with experts of agriculture with a focus on agro-processing, agricultural business technology and agriculture mechanisation and food science and technology.

An advantage to the proposed development of this qualification in agriculture is that the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development owns and manages seven experimental research farms across the province. This Department has signalled its support for the development of agricultural academic qualifications, and it has already started discussions about mutual support for the development of a goat breeding research station at the experimental farm near Ritchie, approximately 50 km from Kimberley. This qualification is designed for the learner who plans to seek employment in the agriculture industry, manage, or own a farm.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate (NSC), NQF Level 4 granting access to diploma studies.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational (NSC(V)), NQF Level 4 granting access to diploma studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4.

Or

• National Certificate: Agricultural Extension, NQF Level 5.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Levels 5 and 6 totalling 372 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 120 Credits

• SCOR I, 8 Credits.
• Agricultural Calculations, 10 Credits.
• Agricultural Geography, 14 Credits.
• Agricultural Biology, 14 Credits.
• Basic concepts of Soil Science, 14 Credits.
• SCOR II, 8 Credits.
• Agricultural Engineering, 14 Credits.
• Agricultural Production, 14 Credits.
• Agricultural Management I, 14 Credits.
• Agricultural Technology and Innovation, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 188 Credits

• Crop Production, 14 Credits.
• Animal Production, 14 Credits.
• Water and Irrigation Management, 14 Credits.
• Agricultural Management II, 14 Credits.
• Agricultural Extension, 10 Credits.
• Agricultural Entrepreneurship, 14 Credits.
• Agricultural Law, 10 Credits.
• Agro Processing, 14 Credits,
• Agricultural Land Use Planning, 14 Credits.
• Game Management, 10 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning, 60 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6, 80 Credits: Choose any four from the following Modules.

• Ruminant Production, 16 Credits.
• Non-Ruminant Production, 16 Credits.
• Fruit Production, 16 Credits.
• Agronomy, 16 Credits.
• Vegetable Production, 16 Credits.

1. Apply entrepreneurial principles in different businesses along the agricultural value chain.
2. Select, plan, implement and manage agricultural production systems in a sustainable manner to optimize economic return.
3. Demonstrate the ability to follow a systematic approach to making decisions regarding sustainable land use and related matters under the harsh realities of climate change.
4. Select, implement, evaluate, and manage relevant farm infrastructure and appropriate mechanization systems.
5. Evaluate the performance of human resources and agribusiness finances.
6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the principles and practices of agricultural extension.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Identify, create, and seize agribusiness opportunities in the value chain.
• Illustrate an ability to acquire resources needed to support a new agribusiness idea.
• Prepare a bankable agribusiness plan.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Recognize and measure environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing crop production.
• Identify and manage crop production systems suitable for arid regions.
• Identify suitable methods to protect various crops from harmful environmental factors.
• Familiarise oneself with climate-smart agricultural practices that may sustain crop production in arid regions such as the Northern Cape province.
• Understand and be well acquainted with the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technology developed to maximise economic returns without misusing natural resources.
• Recognize and measure environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing animal production.
• Identify and manage livestock production systems suitable for arid regions.
• Apply the appropriate theoretical knowledge to monitor the general health as well as the growth and development of the livestock.
• Familiarise oneself with climate-smart agricultural practices that may aid in sustaining livestock production in arid regions such as the Northern Cape province.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Collect, organize, and critically evaluate relevant information about a particular farm or land and its enterprises.
• Use the relevant gathered information to plan the optimal use of the land or farm.
• Use efficient verbal and written communication of the land or farm.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Understand factors to consider before deciding on infrastructure and mechanisation systems to use on the farm.
• Construct and maintain some of the farm infrastructure.
• Maintain the relevant agricultural mechanisation systems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Explain and apply relevant employment policies, practices, and procedures in different agricultural businesses.
• Make sound financial and economic decisions in an agricultural business context using the theoretical knowledge learned.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Apply effective exchanges of technology with individuals and/or groups with an interest in agriculture.
• Explain and apply agricultural extension methods.