Women in Afghanistan’s central Bamyan province are relying on traditional dairy production, including making qurut, yoghurt and cheese, as a vital source of income to support their families amid rising poverty, limited employment opportunities and growing climate pressures.
Across rural communities, many families have seen their livelihoods affected by Afghanistan’s prolonged humanitarian crisis, economic challenges and climate-related impacts, including drought and reduced agricultural productivity. Humanitarian organisations have warned that these pressures are increasing vulnerability among communities that depend on farming and livestock.
Every morning, women in villages across Bamyan begin work by milking livestock and processing dairy products through traditional methods. They transform milk into yoghurt, cheese, butter, buttermilk and qurut, selling the products in local markets and roadside stalls to help meet household needs.
For many women, dairy production has become one of the few available ways to generate income in an environment where job opportunities remain scarce.
Ruqia, a resident of Bamyan, said dairy work has become essential for supporting her family. “I use milk and yoghurt. I sell milk, yoghurt and dried curd. I make qurut from it and sell it. I also sell butter and clarified butter. This is how I cover my household expenses,” she said.
Another resident, Sadaf Ahmadi, said she depends on dairy production to provide for her household. “I am the breadwinner of my family. I work with dairy products such as qurut, oil and butter,” she said.
Women across Afghanistan have faced increasing economic difficulties in recent years, with restrictions and limited opportunities affecting access to employment and business activities. For many households, especially those relying on women’s earnings, small-scale traditional businesses have become an important source of survival.
Bamyan’s rural communities are also facing growing climate-related challenges. Reduced water availability, drought and changing weather patterns have placed additional pressure on farming and livestock-based livelihoods, which remain central to the province’s economy.
Despite these challenges, women involved in dairy production continue to contribute to their families’ financial stability and local markets. Humanitarian agencies say greater support is needed to help communities cope with Afghanistan’s overlapping economic, climate and humanitarian challenges.
