FAO Supporting Food-Processing Centers for Afghanistan Women

DID Press: UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that despite extensive restrictions on the lives and work of women in Afghanistan, the agency continues to support women-only food-processing centers across the country.

In a report released on Sunday, (Dec. 7), FAO said that although the environment for women remains severely constrained, the agriculture sector still offers vital economic opportunities. According to the organization, many Afghan women have been able to generate income by producing items such as jams, pickles, and other processed food products.

“FAO’s large-scale Food Security, Nutrition, and Livelihoods Program in Afghanistan focuses on assisting the poorest 20 percent of households in each targeted district,” the report noted.

Based on the information provided, the program has supported more than 385,000 people in 16 districts across eight provinces since April 2010, providing direct assistance to 55,000 households.

FAO added that, since the Taliban returned to power, women have been barred from work, education, and public life. Nevertheless, efforts to support their livelihoods—particularly in food processing and agriculture—remain ongoing.