Herat Livestock Farmers Warn of Bankruptcy Amid Rising Costs and Lack of Taliban Support
Several cattle farmers in Herat province say the significant increase in the cost of animal feed and medicine, coupled with the lack of support from the Taliban administration, has put livestock farming activities in serious crisis. They warn that if this situation continues, many livestock farmers may be forced to abandon their profession.
One cattle farmer from Guzara district in Herat, who has been active in this profession for more than ten years, says livestock farming is no longer economically viable. According to him, the prices of straw, bran, and husk have surged to unprecedented levels, while dairy products are purchased from producers at very low prices.
He said, “No matter how much we complain about the expenses of livestock farming, it is still not enough. The prices of straw, bran, and husk have all gone up; yet in the end, they buy a barrel of yogurt from us for only 60 Afghanis. In this way, cattle and livestock farming are not profitable.”
Herat livestock farmers identify the absence of a clear support program, the unprecedented rise in the cost of animal feed and medicine, and the low prices of dairy products as the major challenges facing this sector. They urge the Taliban administration to take practical and immediate measures to prevent further stagnation in livestock farming and to protect the livelihoods of hundreds of families.
