Specialist Diploma in Agritechnology and Agribusiness (SDAA)

Post-Diploma / 1 year / TGS-2021008710

Indicate Interest

Course Information

Learning Outcomes

Course Schedule

Lesson Plan

Trainer Profile

Certification

Entry Requirements

Course Fees

Course Information

Singapore has set a “30 by 30” goal to produce 30 percent of the country’s nutritional needs locally by 2030. This goal requires the transformation of the agri-food sector into highly productive, resource-efficient and sustainable.

The Specialist Diploma in Agritechnology and Agribusiness shall equip participants with the competencies to spearhead technological improvements and boost the development of hi-tech urban farming businesses in Singapore and beyond.

Upon completing the specialist diploma, participants can support the agri-food sector in roles ranging from Agritech Specialists, Agriculture Produce Specialist, to Farm Manager.

The Specialist Diploma in Agritechnology and Agribusiness is the first post-diploma program in Singapore jointly developed and offered by Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic, focusing on urban farming. Through this programme, you will develop competencies in the following areas for the management of hi-tech urban farms.

Farm operations
Business development
Enhancement in productivity and profitability

Who should attend?

Working professionals in the agricultural sector who are looking to upgrade their skills and qualifications, and those who are keen to join the agriculture industry.

The Specialist Diploma in Agritechnology and AgriBusiness is also offered as a Work-Study Program under SkillsFuture Singapore’s Skillsfuture Work-Study Post-Diploma scheme.

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to equip learners with a repertoire of knowledge and skills in agritechnology to meet Singapore’s and the region’s current and future needs. In addition, the course will produce professionals with integrated skillsets to manage diverse functions in urban agriculture and sustainable farming. With the emphasis on multidisciplinary training in sustainable urban agriculture, agricultural logistics, business value chain, business management, innovative sustainable design and relevant technologies for an increasingly digitized world, produce technologically savvy agricultural professionals – agri-technologists and agri-specialists, who will plan and manage the primary production chain from urban farm to market.

Course
Schedule

Tuesday, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Wednesday, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Thursday, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Course Start Date: TBC
Application Period: TBC, Register Interest Now for Apr 2025 Intake
Class Day(s): Tue, Wed and Thu
Time: 6.30pm to 10pm
Delivery Mode: Classroom, Synchronous eLearning, Asynchronous eLearning
Venue: Ngee Ann Polytechnic/Online

Ngee Ann Polytechnic reserves the right to reschedule/cancel any programme, modify the fees and amend information without prior notice.

Lesson Plan

Post-Diploma Certificate in Agricultural Production and Technology (TGS-2021008711)

Module

Agricultural Biology (45 hours)

This module aims to equip students with the knowledge of plants' fundamental role in nature and their application to agriculture and management. Students will study plant biology that encompasses plant morphology, function, growth, development, relationships with other organisms, and the physical environment. They will study plant physiology, post-harvest physiology and examine how the plant responds to biotic stresses such as bacterial, fungal, viral pathogens, nematodes and pests, abiotic stresses such as heat, drought, salinity and flooding etc. Students will also study crop cultivar development by applying crossbreeding and selection and using advanced breeding technologies to develop breeding schemes leading to the release of improved crop varieties and cultivars. In addition, they will be given an overview of the impacts of gene action, heritability, and genotype x environmental interactions on breeding and selection outcomes. In addition, the module will introduce students to the mechanisms for the interaction between plants and soil, nutrition from soil and symposium for nutrient deficiency. Finally, the knowledge of plant tissue culture, its application, and methods of producing genetically modified crops will be presented.

Module

Plant Production Principles and Technologies (45 hours)

This module aims to equip students with the core principles underlying sustainable plant production, cropping systems, and practices used in modern agriculture, particularly plant factories or vertical farming. An overview of the principles and concepts behind modern technology's role in plant production, plant breeding and selection, crop modeling and soilless technique will enable students to explore issues posed by challenges facing agriculture, such as climate change and food security. In addition, students will be introduced to crop physiology, soil management, crop nutrition, pest and diseases management, growing media, microorganisms, and soil-plant biology to further their understanding and concepts behind plant-based food's effective production. Furthermore, students will develop skills to assess plant production practices, analyze plant production data and architectural designs, and integrate these disciplines into identifying farming systems best suited in the built environment.

Module

Smart Farming Technologies (45 hours)

This module aims to equip students with the knowledge in advancements in agricultural technologies and their integration into farming practices to increase production efficiency and quality of produce. Students will explore engineering developments such as mechanization and automation to replace human labour, sensor technology to manage better resources, and other advancements that enable precision farming. Students will be also be introduced to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the plethora of farming applications made possible, including connectivity of devices to the cloud via Internet-of-Things (IoT) and global positioning systems (GPS). The sheer amount of data collected also allows data-driven precision farming and smart agriculture. Smart farming technologies are driving the 4th agricultural revolution; however, they should not be pursued at the expense of sustainability. Students will develop skills to assess and apply smart farming initiatives to support ecologically and economically sound agricultural management.

Post-Diploma Certificate in Agribusiness and Analytics (TGS-2021008712)

Module

Agricultural Analytics & Productivity (45 hours)

This module aims to equip students with the knowledge of the emerging phenomena of using data to achieve business objectives. Data analytics enables businesses to realize the full potential of data (generated from various business processes, primary and complementary sources), thus improving the effectiveness in generating business insights and intelligence for optimal decision-making purposes. The module will demonstrate how data can be prepared and used in the agricultural industry for productivity and decision-making. Students will learn to use data analytics to unlock the value of data and enacting decisions. This technology can be applied in areas such as predictive maintenance, sales forecasting or supply optimization. Students will also be equipped with the foundational skills and knowledge required to get started with data analytics. The skills and knowledge include explaining various data modeling techniques, data preparation techniques, performing modeling and prediction, and hands-on lab exercises on agriculture-related use-cases

Module

Agribusiness and Financial Management (45 hours)

This module aims to equip students with vital decision-making skills, leadership, and management qualities in the agri-business industry. Students will be introduced to fundamental business management principles and processes, including ethical and legal requirements, resource management and project management in agri-business. Students will also learn basic marketing principles such as customer behavior, product, distribution channels, promotion, and pricing. Core entrepreneurial know-how in setting up a business and the value creation process from generating and evaluating business ideas will also be incorporated. Students will also learn to apply cost-benefit analysis and business finance concepts for the management of an agri-business.

Module

Agricultural Supply Chain Management (45 hours

This module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skillsets required to handle perishable and time-sensitive products, keeping them fresh throughout the entire supply chain. The areas of coverage range from warehousing to distribution of products based on the various Singapore Standards for cold chain management. Students will be introduced to quality management systems to ensure proper management of agricultural products from post-harvesting to retail. Packaging and traceability technology, as well as new retail technology, will also be covered. In addition, the module provides the framework to understand and manage production, sourcing, supply chain risks and the distribution networks that bring foods to consumers locally and globally. It also introduces regulatory and funding frameworks that are relevant to agribusiness and new farming techniques.

Trainer's Profile

Rajam Chitra Thiruvetipuram

Dr Chitra is a seasoned botanist with over 25 years of experience in botanical research and more than 16 years of teaching. Her expertise lies in plant science with a specialization in microbiology and plant pathology, particularly focusing on sustainable urban farming, plant disease management, and soil science. As a dedicated educator, she teaches various plant science modules, fostering a dynamic learning environment that emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Dr Chitra’s contributions to education and research have been recognized with the PS21 Excellent Service Award (Gold) and the School Teaching Award in 2014. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her development of learning materials for both Pre-Employment Training (PET) and Continuing Education and Training (CET) courses.

Before joining academia, Dr Chitra served as a Senior Scientist at Monsanto Research Centre in India, where she was involved in bioinformatics analysis and the curation of plant literature databases. Dr Chitra's also explored seed-borne viruses in legumes, including peanuts and beans, under both field and laboratory conditions. At the National University of Singapore, she studied the expression of flowering genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. Her current research focuses on sustainable urban farming and the identification and management of pathogens in edible and ornamental plants.

Saiful Anuar bin Mohamad Said

Saiful Anuar bin Mohamad Said holds a First Degree in Botany from the National University of Singapore and a Master’s degree in Arboriculture from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

As a Senior Lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Saiful Anuar specialises in Plant Pathology, Tree Management and Preservation, Plant Propagation, Green Roofs, and Lightning Protection for Trees. His extensive background in horticulture and arboriculture enriches his teaching and research endeavours.

Before joining Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Saiful Anuar held several prominent positions, including Assistant Curator at the Plant Introduction Unit of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Research Officer at the Plant Health Branch of the National Parks Board, and a role in the Arboriculture Unit at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

He transitioned to academia by teaching part-time horticulture courses and the Certified Arborist course at the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE).

At Ngee Ann Polytechnic, he lectures in the Diploma in Landscape Design and Horticulture programme and the Specialist Diploma in Agritech and Agribusiness in the CET space. He has been a key trainer for the Sustainable Indoor Gardening course for the past four years, as well as the Certified Therapeutic Horticulture course.

Soh Eng Lam

Mr. Soh Eng Lam is a Senior Lecturer, concurrently holding the appointment of Senior Manager and Program Manager for the Specialist Diploma in AgriTechnology & AgriBusiness in the School of Life Sciences & Chemical Technology at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Besides teaching in the Life Science School, he has co-developed courses and teaches at the Design and Environment School in NP in the green economy and green urban solutions.
His academic qualifications include Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Environment Science, Human Resource Management, Sustainable Development, Law, Technopreneurship & Innovation from local and overseas Universities.
He also holds professional certifications in ACTA, ACLP, Arboriculture, Aquaponics Designs, Project Management, International HR Management, FinTech, Internet-of-Things, BlockChain, Data Analytics, and Cyber Security Protection.
His research interests are Biophilic Design, Sustainable Architecture, Landscape Technology, Resource Analysis with GIS, and Tree Mechanics. In addition, he has completed scientific research projects in collaboration with the industry in sustainable agriculture in areas of insolation and inoculation of bacteria in leafy vegetables to increase yield, chlorophyll and its effect on photosynthesis between variegated and non-variegated plants, Bioremediation of carbon dioxide in indoor spaces through the use of plants, and designing Aquaponics system for High-rise living.
He has presented his research in international forums.

Certification

1 Specialist Diploma

2 Post-Diploma Certificates

6 Modules

Certification

You must complete two post-diploma certificates within a 2-year validity period to be awarded the Specialist Diploma qualification.

Entry Requirements

Applicants with any of the following qualifications are invited to apply for the course:

Applicants should have a relevant local polytechnic diploma or higher qualification in science, engineering, information and communications, and business management.

Applicants who do not meet the entry requirements may be considered for admission to the course based on evidence of at least five years of relevant working experience or supporting evidence of competency readiness.

Suitable applicants who are shortlisted will have to go through an interview and/or entrance test.

The Polytechnics reserve the right to shortlist and admit applicants.

Course Fees

Funding period for this course is from 1 Oct 2021 to 31 Dec 2024.

SkillsFuture Credit
All Singaporeans aged 25 and above can use their $500 SkillsFuture Credit from the government to pay for a wide range of approved skills-related courses. Visit the SkillsFuture Credit website to choose from the courses available on the Training Exchange course directory. The credits can be used on top of existing course fee subsidies/funding. This is only applicable for self-sponsored applicants and must be applied via the SkillsFuture Portal. More details on the SkillsFuture Credit Claims will be advised upon admission into the course.

Skills-Based Modular Courses (SBMCs) are bite-sized part-time courses for individuals to acquire new skills or deepen relevant skills, without the need to pursue a full diploma. Refer here for course fees for SBMCs.

GST Increment in 2024
Please note that the GST rate will be revised to 9% with effect from 1 Jan 2024, as such any payable course fees will be subjected to the new GST rate adjustments in 2024. Please refer to our STEP portal for the updated fees. (Click on STEP)

Note:

The fees below are per semester.
Please refer to our FAQs for more information.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic reserves the right to reschedule/cancel any programme, modify the fees and amend information without prior notice.

Applicants / Eligibility	Fees
Full Course fee	$6710.04
PR Sponsored by SME	$698.70
Singapore Citizen Sponsored by SME	$698.70
Singapore Citizen Aged 40 & Above	$698.70
Singapore Citizen Aged Below 40	$1006.50
Singapore PR	$2684.02
Long-Term Visit Pass Plus	$6710.04