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

Identify pest and diseases relevant to an agricultural commodity learner is associated with 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12619  Identify pest and diseases relevant to an agricultural commodity learner is associated with 
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 2  NQF Level 02  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 that have completed this Unit Standard will be able to, with respect to the commodity associated with:

Identify pests and diseases
Introduce measures to control pests and diseases associated with a specific commodity 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
No prior learning is assumed to be in place 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
N/A 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Explain how diseases are transmitted in commodities 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Climatic influences explained 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Relationship explained that exist between diseases and specific cultivars 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Cultivation processes and relationship to transmission of diseases explained 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Describe and identify symptoms that relates to the presence of a specific disease in a commodity. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Symptoms identified by looking at leaves e.g. colour, shape, size, structure 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Symptoms identified by looking at growth pattern and structure of plant 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Symptoms identified by looking at root growth 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Describe the control methods that can be instituted to control diseases in commodities. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Method described to control spreading of diseases 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Cultivar selection, disease free seed selected, volunteers removed at an early stage, prevent stress in plants, destroy of diseased plants
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Chemical control of diseases explained 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Identify and describe pests found in a commodities and the methods used to control their presence. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Evidence of pest infestation identified 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Pest included but not limited to:

Leaf eaters e.g. locusts, army worm
Leaf suckers e.g. green leaf sucker.
Leaf hopper, aphid, maize bug, stem borer, snails, fruit fly
Soil pests e.g. white grub, termites and nematodes
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Methods used to control pests described 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Ecological control i.e. making the situation less comfortable for pests to be established e.g:

Use pest resistant cultivars,
Farm hygienically e.g. where possible burn old crop; do not bring in plants from infected areas; plant at a time when pests are less active.

Biological control involves natural occurring and introduced enemies of pests.
Integrated control includes the most advantageous combination of methods above.
 


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 development assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which 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 be 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 and written evidence. It cannot be assessed by observation only.
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, then 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, 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.

1 Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
2. 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.
3 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 
1. Effect pest and diseases have on crop production
2. Benefits of early identification of pests and diseases
3. Safety precautions to be taken when working with chemicals.
4. Different diseases and pests require different methods of control 

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
N/A 

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
N/A 


Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
The learner will be able to identify and solve problems during the process 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
The learner will be able to organise and manage himself and his activities responsibly and effectively 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
The learner will be able to collect, analyse and critically evaluate information 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
The learner will communicate effectively when reporting on work matters 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
The learner will use science and technology effectively and critically (showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others) 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
The learner will demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems. 

UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA. 

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

UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
Learners will be made aware that chemicals used in farming could have an effect on the environment and on the commodities farmed with by neighbours 

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
  ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core  20288   National Certificate: Farming  Level 2  NQF Level 02  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. Hot To Go Training College and Services 
2. In House Media Instruction 
3. Mananthatshema Skills Dev. Centre 
4. Mbimbini Training and Community Development 
5. Setlakala Business Development 
6. Siyasanga Training Centre 


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.