Community Based Natural Resource Management

ASA's strategy has been to identify the key environmental problems and tackling it head on by adopting a multi-disciplinary and integrated approach. Land and water conservation has been major thrust area in ASA's community based natural resources management program.

Participatory Irrigation Management 

To demonstrate community based restoration and management of irrigation systems by water user's associations, and taking into consideration social justice through the involvement of small and marginal farmers, tail enders and women in decision making, ASA has intervened in participatory canal irrigation management.

Farming Systems Research and Extension 

The primary objective of Farming Systems Research and extension is to enhance the productivity of the land and water resources available to the farmers and lead to sustainable agriculture. Under the Farming Systems Research and Extension programme, ASA is spearheading the participatory varietal selection and promotion programme.

Micro Finance Through Self Help Groups   

ASA's micro finance programme is based on the recognition that in an augmented natural resources condition (through natural resources management interventions), an appropriate credit mechanism can pave the way for investment on farming and its diversification, thus creating more employment within the farming sector.

Local Self Governance   

Government's Policy of decentralising power to the panchayat and Gramsabha is a welcome initiative, however the implementation of PRI in the ground is a challenge. ASA is providing continuous handholding support to the panchayat representatives and gramsabha members through a multi-disciplinary professional team called the Spear head team (SHT), thus trying to create capacities within the gramsabha to mobilize people to recognize their rights and make sure PRI work to the advantage of the wider community and delivers better governance.

Training, Research and Consultancy 

Sharing of learning arising out of field experiments with participatory approaches to development has always been a critical component of ASA's programmatic interventions. ASA has been able to contribute to the policy environment and develop linkages with different stakeholders.