To organise, to form a union, to become an alliance, is a fundamental of human social behaviour. Farming is one of the earliest examples of sustained collective livelihood. Therefore the desire for farmers to form associations constitutes an important historical tradition. No single socio-economic category holds monopolies on associating - the benefits are real and realized by rich and poor people, though rarely together. This short missive - composed jointly by the DDG (Fisheries) ICAR, the Director General of NACA and the STREAM Initiative Director relates some early exciting experiences of associations of farmers that are emerging from amongst tribal communities in the north-eastern plateau, which constitute some of the most disadvantaged in India, and the work that these organisations and other partners have conducted with farmer associations towards poverty alleviation through support for aquaculture.