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ASA launches next phase of initiative to empower 35,000 smallholder farmers
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Wednesday, 17 September, 2025, 14 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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Action for Social Advancement (ASA), with support from the Walmart Foundation, has launched the Phase 2 project of its ongoing initiative to uplift 35,000 smallholder farmers in Madhya Pradesh, with a strong focus on tribal communities. The project aims to strengthen agriculture value chains, improve natural resource management, and build community institutions for long-term economic growth.
Building on the success of Phase 1, which saw the formation of seven Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), trading of over 70,000 quintals of crops, it has trained over 30,000 farmers in techniques like vegetable cultivation and agroforestry. Additionally, it has facilitated Rs 80 million in credit from Ploughman Agro Private Limited and supported 10,500 farmers in implementing water conservation practices.
These efforts have led to measurable improvements - farmers reported income increases of 25–30%, while the seven FPOs established under the initiative have recorded turnovers ranging from Rs 45 to Rs 60 million. This growth is enabling FPOs to better aggregate produce, expand market access, and offer value-added services within their communities.
The new grant will scale efforts across three pillars in phase 2: agriculture value chain development, sustainable farming, and grassroots institution building. The focus is to bring 75,000 hectares under regenerative land use, boost crop intensity to 200% from 124%, and grow FPO membership from 7,800 to 13,500, with Rs 160 million in working capital mobilised for long-term resilience.
G Jayanthi, director, ASA, said, “Our initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration in transforming rural livelihoods. By empowering farmers with sustainable practices and market access, we are not just improving lives today but creating opportunities for future generations.”
Nishant Gupta, social & environmental impact advisor to Walmart.org, said “Our support to ASA reflects a shared focus on advancing sustainable agriculture and inclusive rural growth. By strengthening FPOs and improving market access, this initiative will help smallholder farmers—especially women—build more resilient livelihoods.”
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