SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of sustainable farming systems 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116157  Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of sustainable farming systems 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Primary Agriculture 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Primary Agriculture 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The learner achieving this unit standard will be able to recognise the basic concepts of sustainable farming practices and be able to perform basic tasks in applying sustainable farming practices.

In addition they will be well positioned to extend their learning and practice into other areas of natural resource use and farming systems.

Competent learners will understand the environmental context of sustainable agricultural production. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
No learning is assumed. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Whilst range statements have been defined generically to include as wide a set of alternatives as possible, all range statements should be interpreted within the specific context of application.

Range statements are neither comprehensive nor necessarily appropriate to all contexts. Alternatives must however be comparable in scope and complexity. These are only as a general guide to scope and complexity of what is required. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Recognise basic environmental patterns and processes. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Basic environmental patterns and processes include soils, climate, water sources, topography, and ecosystems, and pertain to local conditions only. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Local veld types are recognised. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Comprehension of the importance of the carrying capacity of local veld types is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Local weather and climate are recognised and the role in farming practices is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The importance of bio-diversity in local farming systems is explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Demonstrate an elementary comprehension of farming systems and design. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Internal and external inputs; local, regional and export markets; diverse income sources; needs and aspirations of people. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
An awareness of basic input and output sources is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Knowledge of local markets and other markets is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Possible income resources are identified and described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The needs and aspirations of local communities/ people are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
An understanding of sustainability as a trade-off between productivity and conservation of resources is demonstrated. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Identify and describe measurable indicators of sustainability. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Measurable indicators include social, economic and ecological. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Social indicators are identified and described in terms of their need and usefulness. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Economic indicators are identified and described in terms of their need and usefulness. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Ecological indicators are identified and described in terms of their need and usefulness. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
The assessment of qualifying learners against this standard should meet the requirements of established assessment principles.

It will be necessary to develop assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the qualifying learners are working. These activities and tools may include an appropriate combination of self-assessment and peer assessment, formative and summative assessment, portfolios and observations etc.

The assessment should ensure that all the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge are assessed.

The specific outcomes must be assessed through observation of performance. Supporting evidence should be used to prove competence of specific outcomes only when they are not clearly seen in the actual performance.

Essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in its own right, through oral or written evidence and cannot be assessed only by being observed.

The specific outcomes and essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in relation to each other. If a qualifying learner is able to explain the essential embedded knowledge but is unable to perform the specific outcomes, they should not be assessed as competent. Similarly, if a qualifying learner is able to perform the specific outcomes but is unable to explain or justify their performance in terms of the essential embedded knowledge, then thy should not be assessed as competent.

Evidence of the specified critical cross-field outcomes should be found both in performance and in the essential embedded knowledge.

Performance of specific outcomes must actively affirm target groups of qualifying learners, not unfairly discriminate against them. Qualifying learners should be able to justify their performance in terms of these values.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The person is able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of:
  • Basic concepts of sustainable farming systems.
  • Basic environmental patterns and processes.
  • Elementary comprehension of farming systems and designs.
  • Measurable indicators of sustainability.
  • Local veld types.
  • Importance of carrying capacity of local veld types.
  • Local weather and climate.
  • Basic local ecosystems.
  • Importance of biodiversity in local farming systems.
  • Basic input sources.
  • Markets (local and other).
  • Income sources on a farm.
  • Needs and aspirations of local communities.
  • Social indicators.
  • Economic indicators.
  • Ecological indicators. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Teamwork relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Information evaluation relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communication relates to specific outcome:
  • Demonstrate an elementary comprehension of farming systems and design. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Inter-relatedness of systems relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48972   National Certificate: Plant Production  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Fundamental  48970   National Certificate: Animal Production  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Fundamental  48971   National Certificate: Mixed Farming Systems  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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. Agrioperations Hub Pty Ltd 
    2. Balemi Consulting Pty Ltd 
    3. Biofuels Business Incubators NPC 
    4. Bodav Consultancy & Business Enterprise 
    5. Boikgantsho Consulting & Events 
    6. Bumunhu Services Providers Cc 
    7. Cedara College of Agriculture 
    8. Deloitte 
    9. DEW CRISP PTY LTD 
    10. Dihwai Food Cultural and Agricultural Services 
    11. ELSENBURG AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 
    12. Escay Catering and other Services 
    13. Evening Flame Trading 107 
    14. Farm for Africa Training and Development 
    15. Food and Trees for Africa 
    16. Fort Cox Agricultural College 
    17. GA Community Care Consultants 
    18. Ghoenas Kraal Opleiding Sentrum 
    19. Goldfields FET College 
    20. Heedmorine Training 
    21. Impact Plus Training Consultants 
    22. Interactive Trading 747 ( PTY) LTD 
    23. Interstate Clearing 092 (Pty) Ltd 
    24. Kgopane Trading Enterprise 
    25. Kimbali Holdings 
    26. KMK Training Services (PTY) Ltd 
    27. Knowledge For Ever 
    28. Liliso Training Centre 
    29. Longmore Training and Developen 
    30. Lovedale TVET College 
    31. Madzivhandila Agricultural College 
    32. Maishamalema Development Training 
    33. Mananthatshema Skills Dev. Centre 
    34. Marang Women in Agric and Development 
    35. Mathapuso Construction and Projects 
    36. Matlharini Multi Centre Skills 
    37. Matotomana Training & General Trading 
    38. Mbimbini Training and Community Development 
    39. Medu Skills Consultants 
    40. Mobile Agri Skills Development and Training NPC 
    41. Mogaladi Business Enterprise 
    42. Montshepetsa Bosui Farming & Training Cnt 
    43. Morwa Agri-development cc 
    44. Mpontshe Training 
    45. Mthashana FET College - Vryheid Campus 
    46. Mvelo Consultant 
    47. National Institute For The Deaf - NID 
    48. New Heights 1082 Pty Ltd 
    49. Ngwato Wa Mphela Agriculture Training Services 
    50. Nkalebetja Agricultural Projects and Management services 
    51. Nophelo Training Centre 
    52. Novi General Services 
    53. Nyameko Consulting Pty Ltd 
    54. Owen Sithole College of Agriculture 
    55. P N K Management Services 
    56. Phepha Consulting Services 
    57. Phill Skills and Development Institute 
    58. Progressive Environmental Projects 
    59. Retsogile Education and Training 
    60. SBJ Shadikamang Agriculture 
    61. Scientific Roots (Pty) Ltd 
    62. Sekhukhune FET College - Central Office 
    63. Selipha Trading (Pty) Ltd 
    64. Setlakala Business Development 
    65. Seza Bantu Rural Agricultural Projects 
    66. SITHEMBILE TRAINING INSTITUTE 
    67. Siyafundisa I Africa 
    68. Siyasanga Training Centre 
    69. Suidwes Beleggings Eiendoms Beperk 
    70. The Skills Development Hub (Pty) Ltd 
    71. Thuto Boshwa Skills Development Services 
    72. Thutong Learning College 
    73. Tinotsile Training and Development 
    74. Tlatlana Events Solution and Communication 
    75. TM Mashwara and Projects 
    76. Tompi Seleka Agricultural College 
    77. TPN Training and Recruitment cc 
    78. Tripple R Training Provider 
    79. Tshenkeng's Consulting 
    80. Umfolozi FET College 
    81. Vari Holdings (Pty)Ltd 
    82. Voyano Project Management 
    83. Vukani Community Training 
    84. Westco Agri Training 
    85. Working Decisions Cc 
    86. Yazini Leadership Consultants 


    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.