RESEARCH TASK
SUBJECT GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 12
TASK RESEARCH TASK
IMPLEMENTATION DATE APRIL 2025
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2025
Write a research and investigate the contribution of SUGAR CANE
production to food security and economic development in your area.
RESEARCH TOPIC
Contribution of Sugar Cane to Food Security and Economic
Development.
The Structure and Layout of your Research may follow the guidelines below. Marks
1.1. Cover page 1 A4 3
Page
1.2 Index 1 A4 4
Page
2. Introduction Length
• Give a brief background about the economic sector to which ½ A4
sugar cane production is classified. State the type of farming Page
methods that are used to produce sugar cane. Outline the
byproducts that are produced from sugar cane crop. Briefly 8
state the uses of sugar cane, in South Africa as well as some
other parts of the world. Cite main sugar cane producing
regions in South Africa. Outline a brief description of the
conditions that favor and hinder sugar cane production.
Provide an overview of what food security and economic
development entails. Enlist the indicators of economic
development and food security that will be used in this
research to measure the contribution of sugar cane in
economic development and food security.
3. Research Objectives 8
• State how researching on this topic will help to improve / ½ A4
change / stimulate / capacitate / make awareness / revitalize Page
the methods of sugar cane growing to aspirant growers in
South Africa.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2025
4. Research Hypothesis
• Hypothesis is an assumption that has not yet been ½ A4
researched and there is no tangible in depth data to prove Page
it yet. A researcher observes and identifies a geographical
problem / topic and then makes an assumption based
merely on the observation. After data collection, in depth
analysis and interpretation the researcher makes findings
which may prove the assumption to be correct or incorrect. 8
If findings prove the assumption to be incorrect the
hypothesis is rejected. If the findings prove the assumption
to be correct the hypothesis is accepted.
o Refer to the background in your introduction and the
research topic and generate an assumption about
the extent to which sugar cane contributes to food
security and economic development in South Africa.
At this stage you have not collected data yet to
support the statement your hypothesis, it is just an
assumption.
o Your hypothesis can be phrased as a statement or
in a question.
5. Study Area
Describe the geographic area (Province / Municipal 1
Demarcation / District) where the research will be Paragraph
conducted. A4 size 5
Paper
• Include a map of the study area.
The area under study should be clearly demarcated
on the map. 5
The map must be on scale and should have all map
elements (Map Title, map scale, north arrow, neat map
border).
Maps with current location information may be downloaded
from high resolution satellite images obtained from the
internet or any other GIS software.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2025
6. Research Methodology 7
6.1 • Depending on availability, accessibility of data and
size of the Study Area, you may use both Primary
and Secondary Data or use Secondary Data only
for this research.
(a) Primary Data Collection
State the sources of primary data for your research. ½ A4 Page
o Sources may include interviews,
observations from the field, pictures taken
by camera etc.
o NB You should only cite the sources of
data that will provide specific relevant data
for your research for each indicator of
economic development, indicator of
food security, influencing factors such
as topography, climate, etc.
• Indicate how sampling (number of people to be
interviewed) for primary data collection will be
done.
• Indicate the tools (e.g. questioners) that will be
used to record responses from primary data.
• Indicate how data will be analysed and interpreted
to be used.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2025
(b) Secondary Data Collection
• State sources where secondary data will be ½ a Page
collected o Sources may include geography
textbooks, geography study guides, handouts,
newspaper articles, internet websites, satellite
images, topographic maps, orthophoto maps,
atlas maps etc. o NB You should cite only the
sources of data that will be used in your
research.
• State data to be collected from each secondary
data source.
o Actual data that may be collected may be
literature notes, graphs, pictures or table
data that provide information about physical
and climatic factors such as rainfall, relief,
soil, etc. that favor or hinder sugar cane
production.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2025
7. Discussion, Data analysis, Data Interpretation. 14
7.1 • Refer to data collected from primary and / OR 2 Pages
Secondary data sources.
• Discuss, describe, explain, analyse, interpret and
use illustrations and statistics to demonstrate
contribution how sugar production contribute to
economic development in your area.
• The discussion of the contribution may be shown
on the indicators of economic development such
as employment, source of income, skills
development, stimulating growth in the
secondary industry, improvement of
infrastructure, multiplier effect etc)
• Contribution to each indicator may be discussed
in a paragraph.
• Support your discussion with relevant illustrations
(tables, graphs, pictures, maps etc) where
appropriate.
7.2 • Refer to data collected from primary and / OR 2 Pages
secondary data sources.
• Discuss, describe, explain, analyse, interpret and
use illustrations and statistics to demonstrate
contribution of sugar production to food security.
• Contribution of sugar cane to food security may
be demonstrated by discussing each indicator of 14
food security.
• Each indicator may be discussed in a paragraph.
• Support your discussion with relevant illustrations
(tables, graphs, pictures, maps etc) where
appropriate.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2025
8. Findings and Recommendations
• FINDINGS may show outcome of the 1 Page
interpretation of data. Evaluation on each
economic and food security indicator may show
findings that the contribution of sugar cane to
economic development and food security, for
example is significant or insignificant; is more or 12
less; has evidence of contribution or no evidence
of contribution; is increasing or decreasing; is
rapidly showing impacts or consistently low; is
direct or indirect etc.
• Propose recommendations to your findings.
1 paragraph to
½ A4 Page.
9. Conclusion (Accept / Reject) Hypothesis
• Refer to section 4 (Formulating Hypothesis). Summarise 8
the main points in your findings to determine whether
they agree / disagree with the hypothesis you have
formulated and decide if your hypothesis is accepted
or rejected.
10. Bibliography
4
• Write a bibliography using the Harvard method of 1 Page
referencing.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2025
Marking Rubric Name and Surname of Learner…………………………………………………
Activities Marks Information Required Length
Total Educator Moderator
Cover page 3 • Name & Surname 1 A4 page
• Grade and Class
• Educator’s Name
• Subject
• Research Topic:
Index • Numbers
4 • Topics 1 A4 page
• Sub-topics
• Page numbers
• Brief background of economic
Introduction 8 sectors ½ A4 page
• Overview of farming activities
• Overview of uses of sugar cane
in South Africa
• Main Sugar Cane producing
regions
• Examples of economic
development indicators and
food security indicators
Research 8 • Indication of the intended ½ A4 page
Objectives impacts to be achieve by the
research.
Research 8 • Statement of Assumptions ½ A4
Hypothesis based on the research topic pages
and background information
Study Area 5 • Description of the study area 1 A4 page
5 • Map showing study area
Data Collection 7 • Sources of Primary / ½ A4 Page
Secondary Data.
Discussions, 14 • Discussions on economic 2 Pages
Analysis and development.
Interpretation 14 • Discussions on food security 2 Pages
Findings and 6 • Evaluation of information 1 Page
recommendations. from discussions.
• Proposing recommendations
from
6 findings.
Conclusion 8 • Summarize main point in the ½ Page
findings
• Accept / Reject the
hypothesis
Bibliography 4 • List of References 1 Page
Total 100 9 -10 A4 pages
