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: 

Manage the harvesting process of agricultural crops 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116373  Manage the harvesting process of agricultural crops 
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 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  10 
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 
A learner achieving this unit standard will be able to develop, implement and supervise different plans impacting on the harvesting of crops according to the necessary procedures making use of harvesting tools as described in the harvest plan.

Learners will gain specific knowledge and skills in harvesting systems and will be able to operate in a plant production environment implementing sustainable and economically viable production principles.

They will be capacitated to gain access to the mainstream agricultural sector, in plant production, impacting directly on the sustainability of the sub-sector. The improvement in production technology will also have a direct impact on the improvement of agricultural productivity of the sector. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
It is assumed that a learner attempting this unit standard will show competence against the following unit standards or equivalent:
  • NQF 4: Develop a harvesting plan for the specific agricultural crop.
  • NQF 4: Implement a data collection plan.
  • NQF 4: Execute sustainable resource use and quality control.
  • NQF 5: Optimise and integrate various farming systems and trends within related enterprises. 
    		•

    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 
    Investigate new tools / equipment and methods of harvesting to compliment existing plan and procedures and to fit in with GAP. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    New tools and equipment include but are not limited to new technology developed for the harvesting of crops for the different agricultural enterprises. Harvesting methods according to specific production context include, but are not limited to harvesting by hand, machine etc. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    How new technology and techniques are tried and tested to facilitate better harvesting and compliment existing processes are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    How the above is accessed is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    How the data is captured and processed to test the viability of the new technology is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    How results are evaluated is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    How the technology will be accepted or rejected is described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The record keeping of the entire process is described. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Manage the maturity-indexing (MI) process and decide on procedures. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Managing the MI process includes but is not limited to establishing how samples should be taken, samples should be analysed, and data processed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    How and where samples are tested and data processed are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    How the MI data is evaluated and how this data influences the harvesting plan is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    How the different sampling methods are tested to get optimum results are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    How harvesting problems are solved using the MI data is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    How samples are tested and data processed and information distributed is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    How records are kept to ensure GAP is adhered to are explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Manage the harvesting of crops according to specified market needs and logistics. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Logistics refers to, but are not limited to market maturity of, transport and storage of produce. Market needs refer to, but are not limited to pricing, exchange rate, volumes, quality, etc. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The gathering of market information and the influence it has on the harvesting plan is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The managing and incorporation of the market needs are into the harvest plan is discussed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The managing of the harvesting plan to get optimum results for storage of the products is described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The managing of pre-harvest factors using GAP to get optimum product quality at harvests is described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The keeping of records and reports to be traceable should any queries be made are demonstrated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Manage the health, hygiene and safety plan according to GAP. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Managing the process includes but is not limited to ensuring that the OHSA, EUREPGAP, BRC, ISO 9000, 1400 etc is adhered to. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The usage of a risk assessment is to ensure that an effective health, hygiene and safety action plan is developed to promote safe and healthy working conditions is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The different policy and regulations that need to be adhered to, to comply with company, market and state regulations are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The different training programmes, which are instituted to assist the staff with understanding the needs of the company, market and state are discussed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The different accident and emergency procedures that exist to ensure an accident free working environment according to GAP are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The record keeping process to ensure that any problems or information can be tracked and traced is described. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Manage the disposal of waste according to specified procedures in accordance with good agricultural practices (GAP). 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Waste includes but is not limited to bio-degradable materials (include parts of plants, fruit, flowers, etc.) and non bio-degradable materials (plastics, glass, metals, etc.) A waste collection and disposal plan could include but is not limited to evaluating what can be recycled, how and where and what must be dumped, where and how. Good agricultural practices include but are not limited to adhering to different rules and regulations and within the confines of the law and society norms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The running of a waste management plan in accordance with GAP is described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The processes involved in a waste management plan are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Implementing the plan for the agricultural business to benefit most with being the least disruptive to the environment is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The types of records that are kept and how they are managed is described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The auditing of the waste management plan to ensure it complies with GAP, and other policies are explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Manage the care and maintenance of equipment used. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Care and maintenance includes but is not limited to the cleaning, repairing sanitizing and storage of the equipment etc according to GAP and other regulatory policies. Equipment include, but are not limited to hand tools, power tools, machinery, etc. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    How the caring, storage and maintenance plan for implements and equipment will be managed according to GAP is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The development of a replacement programme for tools, equipment and machinery taking into consideration GMP is described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The implementation of a loss control policy of tools and equipment is described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The record keeping process that controls all the different requirements for a user-friendly plan, which can be accomplished and is in the framework of GAP is discussed. 


    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 they 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:
  • Principles of EUREPGAP, GAP, GMP and other policies are understood.
  • Principles of harvesting a crop are understood.
  • Principles of maturity indexing are understood.
  • Names and functions of tools and materials.
  • Safe handling procedures of tools and materials.
  • Various harvesting methods are understood.
  • Plant physiology and anatomy.
  • Importance of harvesting area being clean from waste material.
  • Knowledge of legal occupational health and safety appropriate to level.
  • Importance of work program development.
  • Importance personnel management. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Problem Solving: Relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Teamwork: Relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Self Management: Relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Information interpretation: Relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communication: Relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology: Relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Inter-relatedness of Systems: Relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Self-development: 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  49010   National Diploma: Plant Production  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Elective  63249   National Diploma: Agricultural Extension  Level 5  NQF Level 05  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. The Skills Development Hub (Pty) Ltd 


    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.