Core Syllabus - Higher Certificate

First Year

First Semester

Agricultural Calculations
30 credits
Bodmas; Using a calculator; Percentage; Units; Length; Area; Volume; Decimals; Formulae; Changing the subject of formulae; Exponents; Ration and proportion; Simple and compound interest; Drawing and equation of graphs; Interpretation of graphs.

Natural Science
20 credits
Inorganic chemistry (elements; atomic theory; chemical equations; periodic table; solutions; acids, bases and salts; oxidation-reduction reactions, etc.); Physics (heat; density; work, energy, power; forces; pressure; electric circuits; resistance and Ohm’s law; electrical energy and power)

Crop Production 1A ( Ag. Botany )
20 credits
Cell and plant anatomy; Basic genetics; Taxonomy; Plant-water relationships; Photosynthesis; Respiration; Plant nutrition; Plant growth regulators.

Animal Production IA (Basic)
20 credits
Reproductive physiology and anatomy of farm animals; Physiology of growth and development; Maturity type in beef cattle and its importance in production; Cattle breeds, Sheep breeds, Goat breeds; Origin and breeds of domestic pigs; Anatomy and productive potential; Origin and breeds of poultry; Anatomy of chickens.

Soil Science A
30 credits
Introduction to physical properties (Soil texture; Soil structure; Soil colour, etc.); Soil water (Introduction to soil water; Properties of soil water; Water management in soils, etc.); Soil chemistry (Basic chemistry relevant to soils; Soil acidity; Irrigation water quality)

Soil Science A Project
5 credits
Evaluation of the physical properties of the soil (e.g. soil depth, structure, texture, water holding capacity) out in the field to determine the suitability of the soil for cropping, irrigation and other land use purposes. A written report is submitted at the end of the project.

Agricultural Engineering (Mechanical )
20 credits
Tillage implements; Fertilizer distributers; Hay making machinery; Hammer mills; Forage harvesters; Herbicide applicators; Rotary cultivators; Calculations; Power.

Farm Business Management 1A (Accounting)
25 credits
Double entry system and financial statements (double entry system; balance sheet; ledger and ledger accounts; trading accounts; trial balance; closing the books; profit and loss); Books of original entry (purchases and sales journals; general journal; cash and cash analysis books; bank reconciliation; accounting for VAT.

Library Project
10 credits
Using the library (card catalogue, finding books, journals and pamphlets, borrowing books, etc.); Finding information in books (indexes, tables of content); Using a dictionary.

Basic Breeding
10 credits
Background to the development of genetics; Qualitative inheritance : Mitosis, meiosis, Mendelian genetics; Quantitative inheritance : Statistical analysis, variation, normal distribution, heritability; Selection; Systems of breeding.

Clothing Production I
20 credits
Design principles; Use and maintenance of sewing machine; Measurements and use of commercial pattern; Introduction to textiles.

Human Ecology IA
20 credits
Man’s environment (family in ecological context; family’s environment; environmental distances; changing environment; resources; conservation of resources); Managerial process (goals, decision making; events, managerial process).

Computer Applications I
15 credits
Introduction to computers; Computer hardware and software, data storage, the layout and use of the keyboard, getting familiar with the mouse; Windows 98; Word processing; Introduction to spreadsheets and Quattro Pro.

Second Semester

Farm Business Management 1B (Principles of Economics & Marketing)
25 credits
Production; Cost of production; Optimum level of production; Marketing; Price analysis.

Soil Science B
30 credits
Soil fertility; Calibration of fertilizer application; Vegetable project fertilizer calculation; Soil classification; Classification and use of code; Classification field trip.

Plant Protection I
25 credits
Weed science; Plant pathology; Entomology; Agrochemicals (formulations; toxicity; safety measures; application methods; knapsack and tractor-mounted sprayer calibration; types and functions of adjuvants).

Plant Protection I Project
5 credits
Students are guided to carry a project on weed collection through identification, naming, grouping and mounting a herbarium speciman.

Crop Production 1B (Vegetable Production)
25 credits
Vegetable crop classification; General cultivation practices (crop rotation; weed, pest and disease management ; seedling production); Marketing and quality of vegetables; Cole crop cultivation; Tomato cultivation; Cucurbit cultivation.

Vegetable Project
10 credits
A student selects a crop which he/she is going to transplant. After transplanting the student is involved in management of the crop. This includes : pest and disease control, weeding, harvesting and marketing.

Forestry
25 credits
Commercial and Small-scale Forestry (Forestry development; Timber Industry in SA; Site preparation; Forestry legislation; Seedling production; Tree species; Growing high-value timber species; Weed control; Protection against forest fires; Forest mensuration; Timber processing, products and preservation); Agro-Forestry.

Forestry Project
5 credits
Planting, land preparation, spraying programmes - pertaining to forestry

Animal Production IB (Nutrition)
20 credits
Anatomy of the digestive system of different farm animals; Digestion in ruminant animals; Digestion in non-ruminant animals; Nutritional requirements for ruminants and non-ruminants; Proteins, carbohydrates and lipids; Vitamins and minerals : Sources, uses and deficiencies

Animal Health I (Anatomy & Physiology)
30 credits
Anatomy and physiology; Basic procedures in disease investigation; Identification of common drugs; Basic concepts on the effects of drugs in the body; Common diseases / conditions caused by external parasites; Prevention and treatment of the above diseases; Classification of animal diseases; Diseases commonly vaccinated against in dogs.

Animal Production 1C (Poultry Production)
25 credits
Overview of poultry production and trends in the world; Housing of chickens; Reproduction in birds; Nutrition; Raising broilers and layers; Veterinary aspects of poultry production; Transporting and marketing of birds; laying nest hygiene and management.

Layer Project
5 credits
Students are given a project which enables them to predict the feed intake and production of layers. They are able to assess the daily feed intake of the birds as per layer requirement. Students are involved in the management of the birds e.g. vaccination. Records are kept and a report is handed in.

Broiler Project
10 credits
Preparation of the houses; Assembling of equipment; Brooding of day-old chicks; rearing of chick to marketable age; slaughtering of chickens - report submitted

Animal Production IIC (Dairy)
25 credits
Care and handling of dairy cattle; Care and feeding of the dry and post-parturient cow; Condition scoring; Herd structure and dynamics; Oestrus detection; Calf rearing; Rearing of replacement heifers; Record keeping; Applied nutrition; Practical feeding; Milking machine management

Dairy Project
10 credits
Management of the dairy, milking, feeding, heat spotting, calf rearing.

Human Nutrition I
20 credits
Human anatomy : digestive tract; Nutrients : ingestion, absorption, metabolism; Nutrition requirements during the life cycle; Nutrient interaction.

Human Ecology IB
20 credits
Financial management (man and his financial needs; family as a consumer unit; economic systems; budgeting; savings, etc.); Consumer education (protection of the consumer; consumer behaviour; consumer rights, etc,)

Food Product Development I
20 credits
Measuring; Cooking methods; Colour, flavour, texture and digestibility; Food systems; Cereals; Batters and dough; Vegetables and fruit; Soup making.

Food Product Development I Project
5 credits
Baking with different batters and dough; Different cooking methods for vegetables.