MONITOR PESTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS ON CROPS

Unit 1: Monitor the common pests prevalent in the specific agricultural enterprise.

• The pest monitoring process for the specific agricultural enterprise is explained.
• The significance for the monitoring of pests is explained
• The differences between pests and predators are explained.
• The relationship between pests and predators with relation to control measures is explained.
• The ability to observe, categorize and report any new plant damage is demonstrated
• The importance of the recording of data is explained.

Unit 2: Demonstrate a basic knowledge of trapping, monitoring and recording the incidence of pests, diseases and weeds.

• The different types of traps that can be used in pest monitoring is explained.
• The significance of these traps and how they are assessed is explained.
• The techniques of monitoring pests when traps are not used are explained.
• The monitoring of diseases and weeds is explained. 
• Different methods of recording the data are explained.
• The use of data to control pests is explained.

Unit 3: Collect insects not familiar and that had been identified.

• The need to trap, collect and send unknown pests for identification especially when occurring in large numbers is explained.
• The way in which these pests will be collected and where they could be sent for identification is described.
• The reasons for identifying pests are explained.

Unit 4: Monitor the symptoms of disease associated with the agricultural enterprise.

• The basic symptoms are which would be looked for when one suspects a disease are described. 
• Damage, disease symptoms and weeds are interpreted and explained.
• The monitoring of disease symptoms is explained.
• The possible measures that can be implemented to control diseases before it reaches problem status is described.
• The strategy to treat an unknown disease is described.
• The identification of diseases from plant material is described.

Unit 5: Monitor and report the incidence of weeds in the agricultural enterprise.

• The characteristics of the most common weeds associated with the agricultural enterprise are explained.
• Monitoring and control of weeds is described.
• The collection of unknown seed is explained.
• The strategy to identify unknown seed is described.