A viral illness that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, foot-and-mouth disease can wreak havoc on farming livelihoods. Whilst it does not typically infect humans, the economic and social repercussions of FMD can be profound, particularly in agricultural communities in lower-income nations like Afghanistan. At this current moment, millions of cattle, sheep & goats across the country are at risk.

What is Foot-and-Mouth Disease?

Foot-and-mouth is a severe disease caused by an Aphthovirus, which spreads rapidly through animal bodily fluids. With symptoms in animals including fever, blistering, lameness, and weight loss, the virus thrives in conditions where animals are kept in close proximity. In rural Afghanistan, where poverty is widespread and many farmers lack access to large areas of private land, the conditions are unfortunately prime for such a disease to thrive. 

Although the mortality rate is typically low, foot-and-mouth disease severely reduces economic productivity, and animals are often culled to prevent further spread.

This latest outbreak has been exacerbated by a variety of factors, such as limited vaccination and veterinary services, frequent movement of animals, and climate change and environmental stress. Many veterinary services in Afghanistan are chronically underfunded and understaffed. Remote communities often have limited access to vaccination programmes or trained personnel, making prevention and containment efforts extremely difficult.

The Importance of Farming Across Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s rural economy heavily relies on agriculture and livestock, with over 80% of Afghans depending on farming for at least part of their household income. Livestock are not only a source of food but also serve as valuable assets used for milk and dairy production, wool production and trade.

When FMD outbreaks occur, the ripple effects across communities are devastating. A single outbreak can decimate herds, halt milk production, and render animals unsellable. In rural areas, where many farmers face poverty and resilience to economic shocks is extremely low, the inability to generate an income from their herds or flocks means the inability to afford food, shelter or medicine, leaving families no choice but to resort to extreme coping mechanisms or plunge further into debt.

For families with no alternative income source, these financial losses can be irreversible and further worsen Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. With 22.9 million people already requiring humanitarian assistance, an additional blow to the agricultural economy risks thrusting millions more into precarious positions.

Foot-and-Mouth’s Devastating Impact

• Collapse of Livelihoods
  Many Afghan families have limited or no savings. An FMD outbreak can wipe out their only source of income within weeks. With little access to credit or government support, these households then fall deeper into poverty and debt.
• Food Insecurity and Malnutrition
  Livestock are a primary source of protein. The loss of milk and meat reduces food availability and variety at a time when approximately 15 million Afghans already face acute food insecurity. This nutritional gap particularly affects children, pregnant women, and the elderly, worsening already high malnutrition rates. 

• Trade and Market Closures
  Fears of infection and quarantine measures often halt local trade, leading to market closures and price drops. Communities that depend on livestock markets for income suffer from reduced demand and falling prices.

How has Afghanaid improved farmers’ resilience to outbreaks?

Having supported livestock farmers and rural communities across Afghanistan for decades, Afghanaid works closely with at-risk communities to mitigate the impact of disease outbreaks, through: 

• Expanding and strengthening veterinary services:

By investing in local training, veterinary supplies, and mobile veterinary units, Afghanaid has significantly enhanced outbreak response across rural Afghanistan. 

Across our projects and with partners, we have recently established thirty veterinary field units, with plans to create a further ten in 2025. These units enable local vets and paravets to deliver essential vaccinations and care to remote farmers who would otherwise be left vulnerable. So far, over 55,000 animals have received vaccinations and anti-parasite treatments through these services.

We also provide livestock farmers with the training and tools they need to enhance livestock care at home, keeping animals safe and bolstering resilience. 

• Building economic resilience:

Through providing training in alternative income-generating activities and creating micro-finance initiatives, we can support communities to build buffers against the economic shocks caused by outbreaks, and ensure they can continue to make ends meet. 

SUPPORT THIS WORK

How are we tackling this latest crisis?

Despite these preventative measures, more must be done in the face of large-scale outbreaks like the current surge in foot-and-mouth disease.

Our teams are working with partners to assess the scale of the crisis and shape an effective response. As a first step, we are launching a major awareness campaign to inform communities about the risks of foot-and-mouth disease and how to prevent its spread.

In remote areas where access to education and reliable information is limited, simple, accessible resources can make a major difference. By working directly with village committees and sharing clear guidance on risks and best practices, we aim to support early detection, reduce transmission, and protect livelihoods.

Support these crucial interventions

This latest outbreak is one of many hardships Afghan communities have faced in recent years. Following severe flooding last year that reduced crop yields, the farming families of rural Afghanistan cannot afford another critical disruption. Without urgent support, millions could be pushed deeper into poverty and instability.

By giving up a regular gift to support Afghanaid's work, you can help us adapt and respond quickly to emergencies like disease outbreaks, and support Afghan families when they need it most. 

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