Asadullah with one of his cows in Darah District

Agriculture and livestock rearing are central to the livelihoods of Panjshir’s people. The province’s fertile lands and favorable climate support the cultivation of various crops such as wheat, barley and corn, as well as fruits and vegetables. The Panjshir river provides a permanent source of water to irrigate their lands. The slopes of the majestic mountains lining this 150km long valley used to provide abundant grazing areas suitable for the raising of sheep, goats, and cattle.

Livestock rearing not only contributes to the livelihoods of many Panjshir people but also serves as a source of meat, milk, and dairy products for both local consumption and Kabul markets. In recent years, however, Panjshir province has suffered from climate change, including temperature extremes, erratic precipitation patterns, low or late snowfall and floods, with a negative effect on agriculture and food security. The drought, heavy rains on dry soil, and overexploitation by economically stressed residents, have notably impoverished pastures.

Asadullah, a resident of Panjshir province, relies on his livestock for his family’s income. He has 10 goat and sheep and three cows. Last year, the lack of pasture forced him to sell some of his animals, in order to buy feed for the rest. Many other livestock owners have similarly resorted to distress sales of their livestock, due to the shortage of animal feed and good pasture.

To support vulnerable families like Asadullah’s, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), funded by the Government of Japan, started the project "Critical support to safeguard livestock-based livelihoods, improve food and nutrition security, and sustain the income of vulnerable rural people affected by multiple climatic and economic shocks in Afghanistan" in Panjshir and neighboring Kapisa province. With the support of our implementing partner, the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee, FAO supported 6 100 households (of which 2 638 headed by women) with livestock protection and backyard poultry farming packages, from March 2023 to March 2024.

In Panjshir alone, 2 000 households benefited from livestock protection (animal feed, deworming medicine, fodder crop seeds and training). Asadullah received 200 kg of animal feed, 3 kg of fodder crop seeds to cover next year’s needs, and enough deworming medicine. He also participated in livestock management training, which taught him techniques like making silage, stable management, proper feeding and livestock disease control using local methods. He no longer needs to sell his animals to cover feed costs, allowing him to focus on other family needs, such as his siblings’ education.

The livestock support has made a significant difference for Asadullah. His animals are now healthier and producing more milk, which he sells in his village for about 450 Afghani (around USD 6.40) per day. This income helps Asadullah, who is the sole breadwinner for his family of seven, to meet his household's basic necessities.

This project was designed to improve food security for vulnerable households by protecting livestock and encouraging poultry farming, providing technical training and input packages. Project monitoring reports indicate that 81.7 percent of the livestock keepers reported substantial weight gain in their animals due to the quality of the support package. The project has effectively eased the financial burden of those herders who benefited from the program.