The purpose of this qualification is to allow Junior Personnel and elected candidates to progress towards a position of farm laboures (operators) with specific reference to Mixed Farming systems. The contexualised purpose and usage of the qualification is as follows:
- A learner assessed against this qualification will have the necessary competence to participate as part of a working team, performing the agricultural processes as applicable to both Plant- and Animal Production in an established and familiar context under general supervision.
- The Learner will be able to perform directed activities and take responsibility for the guiding others at lower level within a Mixed Farming context.
- Competency will be gained in a combination of the sub-fields of Plant and Animal Production as specified under Areas Of Specialization (i.e. Small Stock, Large Stock as well as Vegetables, Fruit Production, Hydroponics, etc.)
- The learner will be able to take responsible decisions within a familiar range based on a sound understanding of the basic principles of agri-business and good agricultural practices, in meeting the set objectives and targets within the broader farm plan which includes the economical application of general resources, agricultural production and technical knowledge and skills, all in Mixed Farming context.
- The Learner will be able to carry out familiar procedures in a limited environment and will be able to adhere to the relevant safety, quality, hygiene and technical standards as applicable within the industry.
- In addition to the above, the learner will be well positioned to extend learning and practice into other sub-fields such as Plant Production and Animal Production, since such efforts will only require additional learning within the elective scope of other qualifications at this level.
- The learner will be well positioned to progress towards higher levels of Management and Technical production practices as defined by qualifications at the next level.
- Learners will be enabled to actively participate in the Primary Agricultural Sector through the production of quality agricultural products, enhancing the overall agricultural process and gain opportunities to access local, national and international agricultural markets.
- This qualification will allow qualifying learners to become economically active in farming practices that will have a direct impact on Local Economic Development through the production of food, the improvement of household food security and access to mainstream agriculture.
- Finally, Learners will be able to guide and direct others in terms of the implementation of smaller development projects within Mixed Farming context
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES
Learners who qualify from the Mixed Farming Qualification will gain the following competencies:
- Fundamental Competencies
- Agri-business
- Good Agricultural Practices
- Plant Production; and
- Animal Production
Mixed Farming NQF 4
Description:
A learner assessed as competent against this qualification will have the necessary competence to monitor, implement, co-ordinate, plan and control the agricultural processes as applicable to the agricultural commodity within a context of either agronomy, horticulture or animal husbandry. Furthermore, the learner will be able to take responsible decisions based on a sound understanding of the principles of management, human resources management, agricultural production and technical knowledge and skills. The learner will also be able to adhere to and implement according to the level of management relevant quality, safety and hygiene standards as applicable within the industry.
In addition they will be well positioned to extend their learning and practice into other areas of agricultural commodities within a context of either agronomy, or horticulture or animal husbandry as applicable to the agricultural commodity, or to strive towards agricultural management standards and practice at higher levels.
Competent qualifying learners in this qualification will oversee quality agricultural products whereby enhancing the overall agricultural process and gain opportunities to access local, national and international agricultural markets.
Rationale:
By 2050, the world population is estimated to be 9 billion people. In order to provide everybody with food, the amount of food planted and grown needs to be increased by at least 70%, otherwise people will not have food on the table. It is important that we teach people to become subsistence and commercial farmers regardless of size, to ensure that we can sustain and meet the demands for food.
This project has its roots in South Africa, but in the future, we would like to bring this project and its impact on food security to the whole of Africa and the rest of the world.
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES
Learners who qualify from the Farming NQF4 Qualification will gain the following competencies:
1. Interpret and manage a sub-section of a pre-set business plan.
2. Understand, interpret and apply technology within a specific context (either horticulture, or agronomy, or animal husbandry) and appropriate to a commodity(ies) of own choice. This could be applicable to both primary and secondary agricultural processes.
3. Understand, implement and apply safety and hygiene standards to comply with applicable legislation and industry requirements.
4. Understand, apply and monitor different production systems appropriate to an agricultural commodity(ies).
5. Implement applicable legislation.
6. Identify possible disasters and apply the necessary precautions.
7. Collect and apply data and information.
8. Demonstrate an understanding and adhere to basic marketing principles, taking into account quality standards and the export market.
9. Understand and apply the communication process and evaluate the success thereof.
10. Work effectively with others and lead a team by applying basic teamwork principles.
11. Understand what informs personal ethics, values, and norms and how it impacts on the workplace with specific reference to relationships with co-workers, clients, him- or her as well as the environment.
12. Identify and access basic resources.
13. Co-ordinate production processes.
What is the role of Entrepreneurs in South Africa’s Future
By Kenaleone Gape
Understanding Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship has become somewhat of a buzzword. So, people may have various understandings that they are comfortable accepting. Some explanations are more precise and others can be relatively broad and sometimes confusing. Even with a world of knowledge available online, different sources compile various schools of thought that may not always relate to localised context.
So let’s bring this one home a bit so we can better grasp what lies ahead for South African entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship can be understood as the innovation and development of new products, techniques, services, and business models. Altogether offering something new for the betterment of humans and processes while making a profit. Another definition of entrepreneurship is identifying needs and creating opportunities by offering solutions. This includes identifying a gap in the market or the need for a more effective and efficient product or service that may not be new. This definition is often more encompassing and relevant to emerging markets like South Africa.
The consensus is that entrepreneurship is a process of planning, organising, operating, and assuming risk.
The Role of entrepreneurship in South Africa
The role of entrepreneurs is to find and exploit opportunities. Being resourceful with land, labour, and capital can contribute to national economic growth through goods and services, the distribution of wages, and contributing as taxpayers. In turn, having positive effects on Per Capita Income and the GDP of the country.
It’s especially important during difficult economic times. When small and entrepreneurial companies can spot opportunities they can produce innovations that raise productivity, create economic growth as well as job creation. They are of course not expected to do this alone. According to USB-ED, Investments in public infrastructure and policies by the government to lower obstacles, helps to optimize and enhance the contribution of entrepreneurs, especially amid the 4IR (4th Industrial revolution).
Altogether these collaborative efforts boost the national economy and aid in the development of social capital.
4 Reasons why Entrepreneurs are Important
By Rahul Baijal
Entrepreneurs can change the way we live and work. If successful, their revolutions may improve our standard of living. In short, in addition to creating wealth from their entrepreneurial ventures, they also create jobs and the conditions for a flourishing society.
Entrepreneurship capital is defined as “a region’s endowment with factors conducive to the creation of new businesses” and it exerts a positive impact on the region’s economic output.
Regions with a higher level of entrepreneurship capital show higher levels of output and productivity, while those lacking entrepreneurship capital have a tendency to generate lower levels of output and productivity.
The impact of entrepreneurship capital is stronger than that of knowledge capital. Evidence indicates that entrepreneurial capital plays a very important role in the production function model presented.
The following are four reasons why entrepreneurship capital is important to the economy:
1. Entrepreneurs Create New Businesses
Path-breaking offerings by entrepreneurs, in the form of new goods and services, result in new employment, which can produce a cascading effect or virtuous circle in the economy. The stimulation of related businesses or sectors that support the new venture add to further economic development.
For example, a few IT companies founded the Indian IT industry in the 1990s as a backend programmers’ hub. Soon the industry gathered pace in its own programmers’ domain. But more importantly, millions from other sectors benefitted from it.
Businesses in associated industries, like call centre operations, network maintenance companies and hardware providers, flourished. Education and training institutes nurtured a new class of IT workers offering better, high-paying jobs. Infrastructure development organizations and even real estate companies capitalized on this growth as workers migrated to employment hubs seeking new improved lives.
Similarly, future development efforts in underdeveloped countries will require robust logistics support, capital investment from buildings to paper clips and a qualified workforce. From the highly qualified programmer to the construction worker, the entrepreneur enables benefits across a broad spectrum of the economy.
2. Entrepreneurs Add to National Income
Entrepreneurial ventures literally generate new wealth. Existing businesses may remain confined to the scope of existing markets and may hit the glass ceiling in terms of income. New and improved offerings, products or technologies from entrepreneurs enable new markets to be developed and new wealth created.
Additionally, the cascading effect of increased employment and higher earnings contribute to better national income in form of higher tax revenue and higher government spending. This revenue can be used by the government to invest in other, struggling sectors and human capital.
Although it may make a few existing players redundant, the government can soften the blow by redirecting surplus wealth to retrain workers.
3. Entrepreneurs Also Create Social Change
Through their unique offerings of new goods and services, entrepreneurs break away from tradition and indirectly support freedom by reducing dependence on obsolete systems and technologies. Overall, this results in an improved quality of life, greater morale and economic freedom.
For example, the water supply in a water-scarce region will, at times, force people to stop working to collect water. This will impact their business, productivity and income. Imagine an innovative, automatic, low-cost, flow-based pump that can fill in people’s home water containers automatically.
Such an installation will ensure people are able to focus on their core jobs without worrying about a basic necessity like carrying water. More time to devote to work means economic growth.
For a more contemporary example, smartphones and their smart apps have revolutionised work and play across the globe. Smartphones are not exclusive to rich countries or rich people either. As the growth of China’s smartphone market and its smartphone industry show, technological entrepreneurship will have profound, long lasting impacts on the entire human race.
Moreover, the globalization of tech means entrepreneurs in lesser-developed countries have access to the same tools as their counterparts in richer countries. They also have the advantage of a lower cost of living, so a young individual entrepreneur from an underdeveloped country can take on the might of the multi-million-dollar existing product from a developed country.
4. Community Development
Entrepreneurs regularly nurture entrepreneurial ventures by other like-minded individuals. They also invest in community projects and provide financial support to local charities. This enables further development beyond their own ventures.
Some famous entrepreneurs, like Bill Gates, have used their money to finance good causes, from education to public health. The qualities that make one an entrepreneur are the same qualities that motivate entrepreneurs to take it forward.
DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the NQF level 2 New Venture Creation qualification is to provide a qualification that can form the basis for structured programmes for potential and existing entrepreneurs to capitalise on opportunities to start and grow sustainable businesses that form part of the mainstream economy, enabling the learners to tender for business opportunities within both the public and private sectors. This qualification is designed for learners who intend to set up or have already set up own ventures.
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES
Learners who qualify from the New Venture Creation Qualification should be capable to:
- Use basic Mathematics in order to fulfil new venture functions effectively.
- Apply basic Communication skills in new venture creation context.
- Determine market requirements and manage the relevant marketing and selling processes.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the sector/industry in which the business operates.
- Determine financial requirements and manage financial resources of a new venture.
- Manage business operations.
Early childhood development
“Childhood is a golden part of our life that we can never go back to. Childhood days are the most cherished days of our life, where we enjoy the little things. Experiences in childhood help us to shape our future.”
Description
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an Early Childhood Development Practitioner.
An Early Childhood Development Practitioner plans and prepares early childhood activities, facilitates and mediates learning, observes and assesses the progress of children, and reflects on learning in an inclusive, play-based environment to support holistic development of children (from conception – school going) in different centre-based or non-centre based settings.
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES
Learners who qualify from the Early Childhood Development Qualification should be capable to:
- Plan and prepare broad-phase learning environment and stimulating activities that meet the holistic needs of all children in centre-based or non-centre-based settings.
- Facilitate and mediate all aspects of the daily programme in a centre-based or non-centre based setting.
- Observe, assess and record each child’s progress according to the age and stage.
- Compile a report of each child’s progress.
- Maintain and promote the well-being, health, nutrition, safety and protection of children.
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES
Learners who qualify from the Early Childhood Development Qualification should be capable to:
This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge Modules, Practical Skill Modules and Work Experience Modules totalling 131 Credits:
Knowledge Modules: 43 Credits:
• 234201000-KM-01, Introduction to the early childhood development sector, at NQF Level 4, 4 Credits.
• 234201000-KM-02, Theories and Perspectives of Child Development, at NQF Level 5, 6 Credits.
• 234201000-KM-03, Planning and Programme Development in early childhood settings, at NQF Level 4, 8 Credits.
• 234201000-KM-04, Facilitation and mediation of active learning, at NQF Level 5, 12 Credits.
• 234201000-KM-05, Observation and assessment in early childhood development, at NQF Level 4, 4 Credits.
• 234201000-KM-06, Promotion of health, safety and well-being of children, at NQF Level 4, 6 Credits.
• 234201000-KM-07, Administration for early childhood development services and programmes, at NQF Level 3, 3 Credits.
Practical Skill Modules; 43 Credits:
• 234201000-PM-01, Plan and prepare inclusive educational activities and routines using an approved programme based on the curriculum framework, at NQF Level 4, 12 Credits.
• 234201000-PM-02, Facilitate and mediate active learning in an integrated and holistic learning programme, at NQF Level 5, 9 Credits.
• 234201000-PM-03, Observe, assess, record and report each child’s progress according to the age and stage, at NQF Level 4, 4 Credits.
• 234201000-PM-04, Support and promote the health, nutrition, safety, protection and well-being of children, at NQF Level 4, 12 Credits.
• 234201000-PM-05, Build and maintain collaborative relationships with parents and other service providers, at NQF Level 4, 3 Credits.
• 234201000-PM-06, Prepare and maintain administrative systems, at NQF Level 3, 3 Credits.
Work Experience Modules; 45 Credits:
• 234201000-WM-01, Learning programme and routines planning and preparation process, at NQF Level 4, 13 Credits.
• 234201000-WM-02, Processes of facilitating and mediating the learning programme in a variety of contexts, at NQF Level 4, 15 Credits.
• 234201000-WM-03, Processes of observation, assessment, recording and reporting on children’s learning and development, at NQF Level 4, 7 Credits.
- 234201000-WM-04, Processes and procedures of promoting the health, nutrition, safety, protection and well-being of children in an early childhood development setting, at NQF Level 4, 10 Credits.