The ASDP is an instrument used in the planning and decision-making processes for rural regional development (BML 1996). It is primarily implemented in preparation of and in accompaniment with regional rural development, land consolidation and village development projects. In rural areas undergoing rapid structural change the ASDP has proven to be useful as an implementation-oriented instrument in which an agrarian structural guideline can be turned into a plan of action. It is effective when agrarian structural deficiencies or problems with respect to development of rural areas must be resolved.

The demands of the ASDP are primarily the following:

• Orientation for future planning of agrarian structure,

• Conception of change in agrarian structure with respect to rural regional development,

• Concept for mutual adjustment of land use and structure of ownership,

• Integration of community and rural development,

• Pointing out competing land use claims and conflicts and criteria for settling conflicts,

• Suggestions for concrete projects and measures which can be implemented.

Recent examples where ASDP has been applied are the following:

• The new German states,

• Portugal - a project for land consolidation and land readjustment,

• Pereslawl county, Russian Federation (with GTZ support).