Over 100,000 jobs created as poultry farms reach 14,000 nationwide, boosting self-sufficiency and economic opportunities
KABUL: Afghanistan’s poultry sector is witnessing an unprecedented expansion, with nearly 14,000 poultry farms now operating nationwide and employing over 100,000 people directly and another 360,000 indirectly, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sadr Azam Usmani highlighted the sector’s growth during a recent meeting in Kabul, stressing the government’s commitment to making Afghanistan self-sufficient in agriculture and livestock production.
“This sector has created job opportunities for over one hundred thousand people,” Usmani said, noting the role of poultry farming in reducing unemployment and strengthening food security.
The meeting also focused on improving the business environment to attract further investment. Noorulhaq Anwar, Director of Administrative Affairs, emphasized that the Islamic Emirate has instructed all government institutions to remove bureaucratic hurdles for investors and traders.
“No one is allowed to create any barriers for investors and investment,” Anwar stated.
Najibullah Hayat Haqqani, Acting Minister of Communications and Information Technology, added that the government is working to provide an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.
“The government must lay the groundwork in the economic sector so that the private sector can operate freely and achieve its goals,” he said.
The Afghanistan National Poultry Farms Union reported that the sector has attracted $1.5 billion in total investment, making it the single largest investment in any Afghan industry. Torayali Hemat, Deputy of the Union, revealed that active poultry farms produce 1.2 to 1.4 million kilograms of chicken meat per day, fully meeting Afghanistan’s domestic demand and holding potential for future exports.
“Not only has this sector met Afghanistan’s domestic demand, but it also has the capacity to export to international markets,” Hemat noted. With 12,500 active farms out of a total of 13,850, the poultry industry has become a cornerstone of Afghanistan’s agribusiness sector and a critical driver of job creation and economic stability.
