A Programme supporting increased Food Security and income by promoting the “Farming as a Business” concept in Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Provinces of Zambia, through a process of facilitation, training, infrastructure improvement, capacity building among support structures/service providers and linkages to relevant service providers.

The initial programme period was from 2003 to 2005, and then extended to 2008.

The ASP was a Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) supported Programme under a bilateral agreement between the governments of Zambia and Sweden. ASP was implemented under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO) and managed by a consortium of five consulting companies. These are: Rural Net Associates, Rural Economic Expansion Services (REES), Gibcoll Associates Ltd., HJP International Ltd, and Ramboll Natura AB, who are the lead consultant.