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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Diploma in Agricultural Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
109028  Diploma in Agricultural Management 
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Diploma (Min 360)  Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation  Secondary Agriculture 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2019-09-11  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2033-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to train low level Managers and Technicians for the agricultural sector to meet the current critical shortage of skilled people in the sector.

Rationale:
Agriculture has been identified as one of the major areas for growth in South Africa. It is also seen as an area that can help reduce poverty in the country.

There is a need to develop skilled people in agriculture to ensure the relevance of the discipline in addressing agricultural sector development for food security and sustainable environment. Therefore, this qualification is for training low level Managers and Technicians for the agricultural sector to meet the current critical shortage of skilled people in the sector.

Typical learners will be grade 12 graduates and people employed in the agricultural sector with a lower agricultural qualification who would like to improve their qualifications through distance education in the field of Agriculture.

Graduates will be able to join employment as Agricultural Technicians and apply their knowledge in solving problems together with the local communities, as part of the poverty reduction and household food security initiatives. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
An applicant may have acquired various skills, competencies and experiences in her/his life time. This learning might have taken place outside of formal education and training and regardless of where or when it was obtained, it is valuable. The applicant may have acquired skills or knowledge from training conducted while at work, experience gained in the workplace, short courses or from community work in a relevant field. RPL permits the applicant to gain credit towards formal Certificate, Diploma and Degree qualifications offered by University of South Africa (UNISA) based on the level and the extent of knowledge. Prior learning will be measured against specified prescribed learning outcomes/syllabi (see attached RPL Policy).

Applicants who are 23 years of age or older with at least 3 years' current, relevant working experience may apply for RPL. Prior learning should have been gained through one or more of the following means: workplace learning, informal study for recreational/personal interest purposes, company/industry based-training, working with experts or life experience. An applicant should apply for RPL if they feel that the prior learning which they have gained meets the prescribed requirements of the equivalent module on offer and could consequently earn a module credit.

All prospective learners should first apply for admission to their chosen qualification before they apply for RPL. Returning learners must apply again if they are changing qualifications. Therefore, RPL applicants must comply with all the admission requirements for the qualification for which they wish to apply for RPL credit.

Formal prior learning requires an appropriate Level 6 qualification which is recognised. Admission to the qualification through Non-formal prior learning and informal prior experiential learning will be through rigorous academic evaluation and approved by Senate.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum admission requirements are:
  • National Senior Certificate granting access to Diploma studies.
    Or
  • Higher Certificate in Agriculture.
    Or
  • An Advanced Certificate in Agriculture. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 360 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules at Level 5: 108 Credits:
  • Agricultural Management Systems, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Financial Systems, 12 Credits.
  • Introduction to Plant Production, 12 Credits.
  • Plant Production Systems, 12 Credits.
  • Introduction to Animal Production, 12 Credits.
  • Animal Management, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Soil Science, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Mechanisation, 12 Credits.
  • Ethical information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions, 12 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules at Level 6: 156 Credits:
  • Community Extension Practice, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Production Systems, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Marketing Principles, 12 Credits.
  • Plant Pest Management, 12 Credits.
  • Plant Disease Management, 12 Credits.
  • Livestock Production Systems, 12 Credits.
  • Poultry and Pig Production, 12 Credits.
  • Computer Applications for Agriculture, 12 Credits.
  • Pasture Management, 12 Credits.
  • Soil Pedology and Classification 2, 12 Credits.
  • Irrigation Systems, 12 Credits.
  • Practical Agriculture I Work Integrated Learning (WIL), 12 Credits.
  • Agriculture Management Practice I (WIL), 12 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules at Level 7: 72 Credits:
  • Agricultural Financial Systems 2, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Financial Systems 3, 12 Credits.
  • Extension Programme Planning and Evaluation, 12 Credits.
  • Practical Agriculture 2 (WIL), 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Management Practice 2 (WIL), 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Management Practice 3 (WIL), 12 Credits.

    Elective Modules at Level 7: 24 Credits (Select two modules):
  • Field Crops and Vegetable Production, 12 Credits.
  • Fruit Production, 12 Credits.
  • Beef and Dairy Production, 12 Credits.
  • Small Stock Production, 12 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate a comprehensive and systematic grasp of Agri-business Management body of knowledge.
    2. Demonstrate a comprehensive and systematic grasp of Plant Production body of knowledge.
    3. Demonstrate a comprehensive and systematic grasp of Animal Production body of knowledge. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive and systematic grasp of Agri-business Management in terms of Agriculture Management Systems, Agriculture Financial Systems, Agriculture Production Systems and Agriculture Marketing Systems.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive and systematic grasp of plant production in terms of Plant Production Systems, Plant Production, Plant Pest Management and Plant Disease Management.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive and systematic grasp of animal production in terms of Animal Management, Animal Production, Livestock Production Systems and Pig and Poultry Production. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The 3-year Diploma in Agricultural management is comparable to other Diploma qualifications that are offered in USA (Olds College, Alberta), UK, Australia, Africa.

    At the Olds College in the United States of America, Alberta offers an Agricultural Management Diploma. In this qualification, learners gain skills in crops and livestock, finance, agribusiness management, marketing, and the latest technology. The Diploma in Agricultural management compares with the Olds College qualification by covering modules such as general management in animal and plant production, crop sciences, soil sciences, agribusiness principles, agricultural management principles, computer application and principles of extension. Upon successful completion of this qualification, learners will attain requisite skills to effectively Communicate professionally with stakeholders, develop enterprise goals and plans, apply problem solving strategies, appraise the performance of self and others, apply business principles to achieve organization goals, assess local and global market opportunities, assess animal and plant production and processing systems, assess the use of technology in the production and processing of food and non-food agricultural products, develop business plans, solve problems relating to production and management, manage financial information and physical records for decision making, apply principles and practices of livestock production, apply principles and practices of crop production, implement marketing strategies, comply with regulatory requirements associated with production and management, practice land and water resource stewardship, manage ecological, economic, and social issues of production decisions and processes, manage agricultural development using appropriate technology, manage agricultural equipment, develop strategies to address production variability, implement throughout the agri-value chain, apply project management principles to achieve defined project outcomes, risk management strategies and utilize technology associated with production.

    ACS Distance Education also offers a Diploma in Agriculture. The qualification features a wide range of elective modules to enable learners to tailor their studies. It has seven core modules, eleven elective modules, three-stream modules plus 100 hours of industry experience/industry-related projects which is similar to the WIL module. Similarly, both qualifications are comparable because they are offered online and are suitable for anyone wishing to work in agriculture with detailed knowledge or people working in agriculture who wants to improve their job and career prospects in the working sphere.

    Watershed College (Zimbabwe, Southern Africa) offers a 3-year Diploma in Agriculture, the qualification comprises of theory and practical components. The modules taught are Animal Husbandry, Crop Husbandry, Farm Business Management, and Farm Machinery and Estate Maintenance which in comparable to the Diploma in Agricultural Management. Practicals can also be done externally during field visits and attachments to the industry. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Diploma in Agriculture, Level 6.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Advanced Diploma in Agriculture, Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Level 7. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of South Africa 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.