ASAP provides agriculture training and resources to empower families with the skills to feed themselves for a lifetime. Each of ASAP's agriculture training programs results in more sustainable, improved farming practices, often with higher yields throughout the year. Some of ASAP's Agriculture projects are:

Depleted soils can be restored with conservation farming and perma culture techniques

Conservation Farming

Traditional farming methods have left soils depleted in Africa. Simple, cost-effective conservation farming methods such as, carefully timed planting, mulching with ground covers, weeding, crop rotation and inter-planting all increase soil fertility and discourage pests while increasing crop yields.

New agriculture skills creates surplus produce that can be sold or traded

Seed Multiplication

This program offers farmers superior seeds that produce drought resistant plants with increased yields. These superior seeds, developed by Total Land Care in Malawi, are not genetically modified. At harvest time, surplus seeds are purchased back from farmers and stored by ASAP to fill the ever-increasing demand in the following years.

Rainwater harvesting provides an alternative to carrying water long distances

Rainwater Harvesting

There is no water without life! In the drought-prone southern region of Malawi, farmers are taught rainwater harvesting using simple cost-effective techniques and locally available resources; as a result water remains available for irrigation through much of the dry season.

Treadle Pump Irrigation in Malawi with Total Land Care

Rural farmers are offered "Super Money Maker" treadle pumps at subsidized prices. With year-round crop irrigation rural farmers can harvest three crops annually (instead of one)plus quality and volume is improved.

Farming progress and successful results due to the use of treadle pump irrigation

Home Nutritional Gardening with Drip Irrigation Kits

Selected needy families receive drip irrigation kits and training in how to grow a home nutritional garden. A 10-meter by 10-meter irrigated home garden will produce crops year round filling extended the needs of the extended family with surplus to sell.

Health and Nutrition Development Initiative

ASAP's HANDEI project strengthens rural communities to help fill the needs of the flood of orphans from the urban to rural areas in Zimbabwe.

Jatropha Tree Planting

Jatropha Curcas. Jatropha trees are drought resistant and grow easily in marginal soils. Browsing livestock avoid this fast growing tree so it makes an excellent natural fence. Jatropha seeds are pressed to make oil for soap, lantern fuel and bio-diesel and the press cake makes excellent organic fertilizer.

Regina Coeli rural health clinic offers medicinal herbs to alleviate suffering

Growing and Using Medicinal Herbs

Medicinal herbs provide locally available remedies to treat headache, nausea and other symptoms of disease. Far from health centers these herbs are in high demand in rural Africa. ASAP disseminates knowledge on growing and using 20 herb varieties (click here for fact sheet) which supplement income and enhance health.

These Moringa seedlings can grow 10 feet in a single year often referred to as the miracle tree

Moringa Trees

Moringa Oleifera. The leaves of the Moringa Tree are an exceptional source for vitamins and are particularly good for young children who are often vitamin deficient. ASAP provides technical assistance in growing and using this "miracle tree".  Click here to read more about Moringa and it's uses.