Pol-e-Alam CITY (SW) – Livestock farmers in Logar province, Afghanistan, say that working in the livestock sector and selling their cows’ products has helped them solve their economic problems.
Ahmad Fawad, a livestock farmer in Pol-e-Alam, the capital of Logar, says he owns several dairy cows, and by selling their milk, he can comfortably meet his family’s needs.
He adds, “I get 20 liters of milk daily from my cows, and through this, I can meet my living expenses. One of my cows is young and gives a lot of milk, which is very beneficial for me.”
In Logar, women work side by side with men in livestock farming, showing that this field is not only for men, but women can also play an important role.
Rahima, a resident of one of the remote districts of Logar, says that livestock farming is the only job that can help improve her economy. “Many women in this province work in animal husbandry and support their needs through this; it’s very profitable.”
Sara, another livestock farmer in Logar, says, “Every day, I get several kilograms of milk from my animals, which I take to the market. Each kilogram of milk is sold for 25 to 27 afghanis.”
On the other hand, Abdul Basir Shahed, head of media at the Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock in Logar, says that the interest of the province’s residents in raising and caring for livestock has increased compared to the past.
“In Pol-e-Alam and other Logar’s districts, around 40,000 liters of milk are produced daily. Some of this is processed locally, while the rest is sent to Kabul for processing. In addition to government farms, dozens of other farms have been established in the districts for keeping cows,” he shared.
Abdul Hafiz, a livestock expert in Logar, says that to grow livestock farming in the province, support for farmers and the establishment of milk processing centers are necessary. “If the dairy products produced in Logar are properly processed and then marketed in Kabul and other provinces, the livestock output in Logar will double,” he said.
Livestock farming is a significant part of Afghanistan’s economy, and many citizens, especially in remote areas, are involved in this sector. However, a lack of markets to sell livestock products remains one of the challenges facing farmers.
