How to use Afghanistan’s unused mountains to feed millions of Afghans

This article explores how to make use of the millions of square kilometers of Afghanistan’s mountainous regions to generate food, wool, milk and other products to feed and generate income for millions of Afghans. The article offers a first draft plan and invites other local experts to add ideas, research, and details.

Case study and success story

Austria is a very mountainous country similar to Afghanistan. Austria uses its grasslands on the mountains to grow and feed cows, sheep, goats, and other animals. The animals are you for milk, wool, meat and other benefits. In summertime animals are led to the mountains and kept there for several months. The grasslands feed the animals. Mountain springs provide the necessary water. Adults, young people, and even children live in the mountains to look after the animals. Cows and other animals are milked in the mountains. The milk is collected by tank trucks or sent down the mountain into the valleys through basic cable transportation systems or water pipes where are not available. Wool is collected later when the animals are driven back into the valleys. Meat is produced by slaughterhouses in the valleys. This approach has been successfully implemented in Austria for many decades.

Learnings and applications for Afghanistan

Business minded people or government sponsored entities could transport 500 to 1000 animals into a mountainous region with sufficient grassland and water springs. The feeding of the animals will be on unused lands and thus free. Low-cost labor, recruited from nearby villages, can look after the animals, milk the animals, collect and transport the milk. Villages can help sheer, treat and slaughter animals at the appropriate times.

Advantages:

·?????? Increase meat production and reduce unnecessary meat imports

·?????? Increase milk, wool and other animal produce.

·?????? Make use of unused grasslands in mountainous regions

·?????? Minimize costs to feed animals for months.

·?????? Leverage low labor cost.

·?????? Create jobs in undeveloped poor regions.

·?????? Optional: Offer an alternative to street children to work and live in the mountains

·?????? Generate revenues and good profits

·?????? Other

How to get started:

• Begin with pilots to test and learn in Year 1.
• Select three suitable mountainous areas
• Keep number of animals to no more than 200 animals at each site.
• Use cows and sheep.
• Hire suitable people (ideally with animal husbandry experience) from the local community.
• Set up and optimize operations over time.
• Milk cows. Collect and transport milk.
• Transport animals back to the valley at winter-time to keep or slaughter.
• Transport animal produce to processing facilities
• Scale operations in Year 2. Introduce more animals to the same mountainous areas.
• Consider adding different animal types such as Lamas, Yaks, or other animals winter & cold resistant
• Optimize approach and operations
• Expand to more and different mountainous areas in Year 3 and following years.

Points to consider

• The ideas to introduce cows to the mountains may be new for many people and may require awareness raising & education.
• The government may provide security guards where appropriate.
• The government may clear any obstacles (such as land mines) and certify the land to be safe.
• The government may promote the idea to the community and assure their full support
• NGOs could provide support (assuming they raise their own funds)

Request for more information & expert input

This article provided a first draft plan and outline. It invites...

• People with experience in agriculture and animal husbandry to share their thoughts.
• Researchers and economists conduct and share helpful support data.
• Employees in national, provincial and district government to provide their perspective, surveys and their support.
• Local and international NGOs to volunteer their relevant experience from Afghanistan and other countries.
• Donors to fund part of the effort & logistics
• Entrepreneurs to develop this idea into a profitable business
• Investors to finance part of the effort to gain a good return on their investment.

Connect with/ contact Alex Steinberg directly at WhatsApp +966 531824178 to schedule a meeting for expert exchange & discussion. Note: Alex is in Kabul (but keeps his foreign WhatsApp number)

About the author Alex Steinberg

Alex Steinberg has helped develop, lead, execute, and advise large programs & projects for many companies in highly industrialized and developing countries.

Alex has helped build organizations and countries by conceptualizing and delivering strategies, programs, initiatives, and solutions end-to-end across key industries.

Alex is currently in Kabul, identifying opportunities and developing solutions to help build Afghanistan. Alex is coming as an expert advisor to work alongside with government, businesspeople, NGOs, and other parties. Much of his time he invests into aspiring entrepreneurs and company leaders to build successful, profitable organizations that impact millions of people in Afghanistan. His key objective is to build a strong private sector that is able to serve the Afghan needs while creating jobs in a sustainable way.

Legal Disclaimer

This article reflects the opinion of Alex Steinberg only. It does not claim to represent the viewpoints of any present/ former client, employer, or partner. The author acknowledges that there are often different viewpoints on a topic, which are equally valid. Constructive discussion rather than criticism can lead to better ideas and positive outcome & value to business and society.

?