Water-Smart Approach

Absorb, firsthand, how ASA collaborates with communities to custom-solve problems using proven methods.

ASA strategies are designed to increase agricultural productivity by protecting and restoring soil and water sources. We customize our approach in partnership with farmers and local leaders. Our goal is for farmers, crops and communities to thrive over time with greater yields, sustainability, resilience and prosperity.

A simple premise: cover crops.

ASA has learned that soils protected by cover crops stay put during a downpour instead of washing away, and retain water when rain is scarce. These valuable crop residues and cover crops increase soil organic matter, enriching the soil for crops.

“Healthy soils capture and hold moisture like sponges, providing water to crops, even when rain is scarce.” Dr. Marie-Soleil Turmel, CRS Soil Scientist

Fertilizer: the right ingredients, the right dose, at the right time.

ASA shows farmers how to use fertilizer more efficiently, so they only apply what the crop needs. And organic solutions such as nitrogen-replenishing beans planted between crops reduce dependence on expensive chemical fertilizers.

Core ASA farming practices include:

• Conservation agriculture (No-tillage; permanent soil cover; crop rotation/association)
• Integrated soil fertility management focused on soil health and nutrient and acidity management.
• Cover crops – focused on nitrogen-fixing and biomass-producing crops
  Integration of agroforestry systems and diversification
• Pasture management ensuring the integration of animals to build the soil while maintaining animal health and productivity

Water-Smart Farmers in Central America are already seeing:

• Increased infiltration of rainfall
• Improved soil water retention
• Reduced erosion and runoff
• Reduced evaporation
• Improved crop yields
• Lower production costs
• Richer soil fertility
• Replenished watersheds
• Better quality water
• More captured and stored carbon in soil
• Reduced need for chemicals and pesticides
• Immediate and long-term adaption to climate change
• More stable and reliable yields for farmers