gtz - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit GmbH

Strengthening of livestock production in in the North East Provinces of Afghanistan

The livestock project aims at improving and increasing livestock productivity via the network of private veterinary field units (VFUs). Targeted areas are the provinces of Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan and Badakhshan. It is estimated that some 300,000 local livestock holders can be reached with this project.  The contract covers 1 year, but a 2nd and 3d year are foreseen. Total budget for year 1 amounts to € 781,330.

The livestock project focuses on strengthening of the VFU network and on additional extension to create awareness among the local farmers on animal productivity. The VFU network will be expanded by the construction of 12 new VFUs. To staff these VFUs, new paravets will be trained. For remote areas, where no VFU is present, Basic Veterinary Workers (BVWs) will be trained to perform the basic veterinary services. The present paravets will receive refresher training with focus on livestock health and production. The training will also emphasize on how to use the standard extension packages for the dissemination of the extension messages to livestock farmers. To make the farmers aware of measures to  improve the health and productivity of their livestock, 30 extensionists will be trained. They will teach 5,000 farmers each year on nutrition management, feed production and conservation, and fodder banks. This project will lead to improved animal production in the area, and as a result to increased  income for the livestock farmers .

Improve livelihood for women and poor through a sustainable poultry development and management programme

Main objective of the poultry project is to improve livelihoods for poor women through a sustainable poultry development and management programme. This project will be implemented in the provinces of Kunduz, Baghlan and Badakhshan.  Six hundred women in these provinces will benefit directly from the project. The  contract is signed for one year, with the intention to expand the project in the second year to six provinces. The budget for the first year is € 410,785.

In this project, poultry and poultry feed will be distributed for free to the poorest women in the provinces concerned in the initial start up phase.  In each province, 200 beneficiaries will be selected. Each beneficiary receives 20 pullets (18 females and 2 cocks) and 100 kg of poultry feed to start a small backyard poultry breeding. Through a special management programme the women will be trained in poultry husbandry as well as in business skills. Village women associations will be established and trained to empower and support the beneficiaries.  For the necessary animal health care, local VFU staff will receive refresher courses on poultry health and production, and female poultry BVWs will be trained. The poultry project will result in additional income generation for the poorest families, as well as capacity building and empowerment of poor women.

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