In Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, livestock is vital to the local community. Animals provide milk to drink and wool to sell, however, droughts in recent years have made it difficult for farmers to get food for their animals. Some farmers had to travel long distances to get fodder, which meant less time for other activities like growing crops.
Other farmers had to reduce the number of animals they kept.
Several years since the fall of the Taleban, Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world with an average life expectancy of just 43 and widespread security problems. However, Oxfam Unwrapped funding has helped communities to improve their livelihoods and food security by developing animal vet care, shelter and food.
Oxfam provided training and tools so that communities can produce nutritious animal fodder, which improves the quantity and quality of meat and milk from livestock.
Keeping animals in sturdy shelters protects them from the elements, and from predators. Oxfam worked with communities to raise awareness of the benefits of improved shelter and built demonstration stables in six villages. Local people received training and materials to enable them to build better animal stables.