Plant Production NQF Level 4 | AgriSETA

Qualification Overview

This qualification is designed to enable supervisors to progress towards junior farm manager positions in plant production. The qualification prepares learners to manage supervisors and working teams in agricultural processes while taking full responsibility for the quality and quantity of outputs in plant production operations.

Key Objectives

Managing supervisors and coordinating working teams in plant production processes
Taking responsibility for quality and quantity of outputs in agricultural operations
Gaining competency in specialised plant production sub-fields including vegetables, fruit production, hydroponics, organic production, permaculture, agronomy, and horticulture
Making responsible decisions based on agri-business principles and agricultural management practices
Overseeing implementation of procedures and ensuring compliance with industry standards
Developing advanced management and leadership skills in plant production environments
Understanding farm operations across multiple plant production categories
Implementing quality control, safety, and environmental management systems
Preparing for higher management and technical production practices at NQF Level 5

This qualification positions learners for higher management roles and allows horizontal movement between different plant production sub-fields. It also supports recognition of prior learning and accommodates learners from diverse backgrounds including farm operators, school leavers, and those with practical experience.

Core Competencies

Fundamental Competencies

•Apply communication skills in an agricultural environment
•Apply mathematical calculations within the agricultural environment
•Implement a data collection plan in the agricultural sector
•Plan and maintain environmentally sound agricultural processes by identifying knowledge processes and patterns of the environment in the region, and understanding the limitations of resources and how their management contributes to sustainable interactive agriculture, using environmental indicators

Agri-business

•Manage stores and agro-inputs in stores
•Implement quality control aspects of an agribusiness
•Demonstrate ability to development of an integrated marketing plan
•Demonstrate the ability to develop an integrated whole farm budget
•Apply principles of human resources management in an agricultural environment
•Participate in the analysis, planning and management of an agri-business
•Describe the historical and current structure of the relevant industry within secondary agriculture
•Evaluate and adjust the enterprise and production processes of animal and crop enterprises

Agricultural Practices

•Implement a management system related to food safety, production practices, as well as demonstrate environmental and social awareness within the agricultural supply chain
•Apply principles to design, prepare and implement basic operational procedures for the maintenance and storage of equipment, implements and infrastructure
•Implement corrective actions to ensure water quality
•Implement a natural resource management plan of the farm in relation to area wide planning
•Maintain the most appropriate land-use on a farm by continuously assessing the natural resource base