Bhopal, September 16, 2025: Action for Social Advancement (ASA), with support from the Walmart Foundation, has launched the second phase of its initiative to empower 35,000 smallholder farmers in Madhya Pradesh, with a particular focus on tribal communities. The project aims to strengthen agricultural value chains, enhance natural resource management, and build grassroots community institutions for long-term economic growth.
The launch builds on the success of Phase 1, which supported the formation of seven Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), facilitated trading of over 70,000 quintals of crops, and trained more than 30,000 farmers in vegetable cultivation, agroforestry, and other sustainable techniques. ASA also enabled ₹80 million in credit from Ploughman Agro Private Limited and supported 10,500 farmers in adopting water conservation practices.
As a result, farmers reported income growth of 25–30%, while the FPOs recorded turnovers ranging between ₹45 and ₹60 million. These gains have helped FPOs expand their role in aggregating produce, improving market access, and offering value-added services to their members.
Under Phase 2, ASA will expand efforts across three areas: agriculture value chain development, sustainable farming, and institution building at the grassroots level. The project aims to bring 75,000 hectares under regenerative land use, increase crop intensity from 124% to 200%, and expand FPO membership from 7,800 to 13,500. ASA also plans to mobilize ₹160 million in working capital to build long-term resilience for smallholder farmers.
Commenting on the initiative, 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, added: “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.”
Founded in 1996, ASA works to promote farm-based livelihoods for smallholder farmers through its Livelihood Enhancement Model, which seeks to harmonize people, nature, and the economy. With operations across eight states and a team of more than 350 professionals, ASA has a long-standing focus on supporting marginalized farming communities.
Looking ahead, ASA plans to implement Phase 2 over the next two years across Anuppur, Betul, Dindori, Mandla, and Ratlam districts in Madhya Pradesh, extending the program’s reach and deepening its impact with continued support.
