Afghan farmers turn to cooperatives
- 12 years ago
In Afghanistan, a new business model is taking off among dairy farmers - the cooperative.
In this village near the Pakistan border, farmers are joining together to share expertise and resources.
They say that's helped boost profits, create jobs and stabilize the region - once rife with militant groups.
(SOUNDBITE) (Pashtu) UNNAMED FARMER, SAYING:
"The benefit of a cooperative is they have turned people from an individual life to a collective life. It has created a national drive for unity."
World Food Day, which falls on Oct 16, will shine a light on hunger. And experts say cooperatives are one way communities can feed themselves.
There are 14 co-operatives in this province, and many are supported by the United Nations.
Some members are working to build a massive new dairy plant that is expected to dramatically boost production.
With NATO planning to pull out its troops by 2014, experts say projects like this are vital for bringing economic growth - and stability - to Afghanistan.
In this village near the Pakistan border, farmers are joining together to share expertise and resources.
They say that's helped boost profits, create jobs and stabilize the region - once rife with militant groups.
(SOUNDBITE) (Pashtu) UNNAMED FARMER, SAYING:
"The benefit of a cooperative is they have turned people from an individual life to a collective life. It has created a national drive for unity."
World Food Day, which falls on Oct 16, will shine a light on hunger. And experts say cooperatives are one way communities can feed themselves.
There are 14 co-operatives in this province, and many are supported by the United Nations.
Some members are working to build a massive new dairy plant that is expected to dramatically boost production.
With NATO planning to pull out its troops by 2014, experts say projects like this are vital for bringing economic growth - and stability - to Afghanistan.