Foot-and-Mouth Disease Brings Heavy Losses to Herat Farmers

The Herat Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock reported that the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among animals, particularly cows and calves, has so far resulted in the deaths of hundreds of animals.

Officials from the directorate said they have requested assistance from partner organizations to provide vaccines and veterinary medicines for this disease.

Along with the spread of the disease, the level of milk production in Herat has also significantly decreased.

Meanwhile, several livestock farmers said that in recent weeks, with the death of their cattle and livestock, they have suffered substantial financial losses.

Ghulam Mohammad Amiri, head of the Herat Cattle Farmers Union, : “Almost eighty percent of the cattle farms and farmers’ cows in the villages have been affected by foot-and-mouth disease.”

Mohammad Omar Qased, head of the livestock department of the Herat directorate of agriculture and livestock, said: “The Directorate of Agriculture has spoken with organizations working in the agricultural sector, especially in livestock, and they have promised to cooperate in providing vaccines and medicine.”

According to statistics from the Herat Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock, there are more than 700 cattle farms operating in the province. Farm owners say that the death of their livestock following the outbreak has caused them significant financial damage.

Abdul Ghafar, the owner of a cattle farm, said regarding the losses: “A cow worth 150,000 afghani (one and a half lakh afghani) died a few days ago. Calves were also valued between 35,000 and 40,000 Afghanis.”

Abdul Rouf, the owner of another cattle farm, stated: “Three dairy cows and three calves died. I had bought each calf for 40,000 afghani, and the heifer calves, which were breeding stock, for 70,000 afghani.”

Although foot-and-mouth disease has also appeared in previous years among animals in Herat, veterinarians say that this year the disease is more severe and deadly than in previous years.

Hafizullah Qazizada, a veterinarian in Herat, told : “In past years, there was also foot-and-mouth disease, but this year it has spread very widely and caused the deaths of cows and calves. In previous years, the disease would mildly infect animals, but this year it has severely sickened them, leading to higher fatalities.”

Foot-and-mouth disease is a viral and contagious illness among cows and sheep. According to veterinarians, this disease is dangerous and deadly, and if animals are not vaccinated, the likelihood of their death is very high.