Afghan women venture into business for economic independence

KABUL - Amid a quite prevalent conception that Afghan women are confined to household roles, a courageous few are breaking barriers to boldly venture into business for their economic independence.

One such trailblazer is Sona Mirzada, seen at the ongoing annual fair of agricultural products held in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, showcasing her products in hopes of expanding her business and sales.

The Afghan caretaker government's Ministry for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock organized the four-day event starting Wednesday, aiming to push agricultural production and trade.

Local businesspersons and farmers put on display their products and commodity items in 263 stalls, including 56 by women.

"We have been involved in agriculture and animal husbandry, and in the agriculture sector we plant pepper and similar plants," Mirzada told Xinhua at her stall.

With evident pride in her accomplishments, Mirzada revealed that her company has employed 60 women workers, with 40 of them engaged in cultivation in Dihdadi district of the northern Balkh province.

A resident in Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital of Balkh, Mirzada launched her income-generating project a year ago with an initial capital of 100,000 afghanis (about 1,400 U.S. dollars).

Mirzada said her capital has grown to 1.1 million afghanis over the past year, allowing each of her woman workers to earn up to 5,000 afghanis per month.

"Any woman working with us can earn between 3,000 to 5,000 afghanis monthly. They work within their gardens and don't need to go out of their houses. They can manage their household affairs without affecting the work in gardens," the middle-aged businesswoman said enthusiastically from her stall.

Her clientele includes households, restaurants, and enthusiasts of spicy cuisine, she added.

Nazima Khawajazada, another businesswoman, said her focus is on selling hand-woven carpets, handicrafts and silver ornaments.

Employed as a salesperson at Narsees Company, a local enterprise led by a female entrepreneur, Khawajazada highlighted her boss's efforts to support and empower other Afghan women.

"Our boss is a woman, and she contributes to the empowerment of women. About 170 women are now working at the company, and the majority of them are the breadwinner for their families," Khawajazada said.

However, she expressed concern over the company's dwindling income amid economic difficulties and falling demand.

"Our company's monthly income previously ranged between 5,000 to 6,000 U.S. dollars, but nowadays, we can hardly earn 100,000 afghanis due to the economic situation," she said.

Some 80 percent of the war-torn Asian country's nearly 35 million population rely on agriculture to earn their livelihood and support their families. (1 U.S. dollars equals about 72 afghanis) - XINHUA