This unit applies to rural products merchandisers whose job role includes providing advice on agronomic products including fertilisers.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Identify customer needs

1.1. Appropriate interpersonal skills are used to accurately identify customer needs.

1.2. Customer enquiries are handled courteously and promptly in accordance with enterprise procedures and industry requirements.

1.3. Available products are matched to customer needs and against ecological considerations.

1.4. Knowledge and understanding of agronomic products is actively and regularly researched and updated from authoritative sources.

2. Provide product advice

2.1. Advice that addresses customer needs is provided to customers in a timely and professional manner.

2.2. Products that may meet customer needs are appropriately exhibited to customer.

2.3. Alternative and additional products and services are suggested as necessary.

2.4. Customers concerns and questions are addressed sensitively in line with enterprise requirements.

Required skills

assess and demonstrate cost benefits of fertilisers

research supplier information

safely lift, carry and handle products

identify basic nutritional deficiencies and plants and animals

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

customer service techniques

systems and procedures for the safe handling of products

enterprises business values, structure, products and services

industry terminology for products

requirements of local or specific customers

relevant requirements of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), industry, fair trading, trade practices, sales of goods, environment and public liability legislation

crop seeds requirements of local customers

basic crop cultivation techniques

fertilisers types and analyses

climate and growing conditions generally

relevant components of State/Territory Acts relating to fertilisers and certified seeds.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

retain technical currency in all aspects of agronomy relevant to the client group

engage with and give advice to customers

ensure that the advice and product type are applicable and suitable for the purpose and growing environment of the client

encourage add on sales

organise trials of agronomic products and distribute results to clients

represent the enterprise in a professional manner when dealing with customers.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

The range of agronomic products may include:

Fertilisers:

Urea

superphosphate

lime

blood and bone

potash

mixed fertilisers

trace elements

specialty fertilisers.

Crop and seeds:

Cereal crop including wheat

oats

barley

triticale

grey peas

maize lupins

others appropriate to local district.

Fodder and forage crops:

choumoullier

turnips

swede

rape

others appropriate to local district.

Pasture species:

legumes

annual, perennial and short rotation grasses

native pasture species

others appropriate to local district.

Unit sector

Merchandising and sales

This unit contains employability skills.