Despite harsh winters in Parwan, agricultural work continues. For many rural women, winter is an opportunity to support their families. They grow vegetables in home greenhouses, milk cows and goats, and produce yogurt, cheese, cream, and qorot. Though the income is small, it is steady and vital for their families.
Fatima, one of these women, grows vegetables both for her family and for the local market. She said, “I have a home garden where I grow tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, coriander, and mint. I sell them in the market and support a family of eight with this income.”
She also encouraged other women, saying, “Don’t wait for anyone—work hard and help your relatives.” She added that organizations should provide financial support.
Parnian, who has a home greenhouse, emphasized the need for ongoing support from the government and international organizations. She said,
“I grow tomatoes, cucumber, green peppers, and fresh herbs in my courtyard greenhouse, which I water myself. Summer yields are higher, but the greenhouse lets us produce even in winter.”
She also mentioned that their main challenges are a shortage of good seeds, quality plastic, and high heating costs. She hopes for help with building standard greenhouses, technical training, and heating equipment.
Besides growing vegetables, many women also play an important role in livestock farming and dairy production. For example, Harir is one of the women involved in dairy production. She said, “I bought a dairy cow and make yogurt and cheese from its milk.”
Munisa does similar work. She said, “I have two dairy goats. From their milk, we produce yogurt, cheese, cream, and qorot, which we sell in the market and spend it for our family.”
In recent years, support programs have helped women improve their agricultural and livestock skills in Parwan. These programs provide greenhouse equipment and basic training, helping women move from traditional methods to more efficient practices.
However, challenges remain. Limited resources, lack of training and markets, high heating costs, and social barriers limit women’s work. As a result, many sell products locally or use them at home, which limits economic growth.
Farhad Hamdard, an agricultural development expert, said that targeted policies can strengthen women’s role in family economies. He suggested setting up dairy collection and processing centers, expanding technical training, creating local markets, using high-yield crops, improving transportation, providing small loans, and teaching modern processing and storage methods.
Officials from the Parwan Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock reported that most active women are in Siyahgerd and Bagram districts and participate in support programs.
Neyaz Mohammad Taayeb, head of agricultural affairs, said, “In Siyahgerd and Bagram, about 2,334 families are involved in dairy production and home gardening. The same number of women are eligible to receive home garden tools from the SUO Institute, which operates under the Department of Agriculture. Currently, no new programs are planned in this area.
Investing in women in agriculture and livestock boosts family income, food security, and rural development while reducing poverty.
