Australian chicken farms on the increase in Kandahar

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): The number of Australorp chicken farms has recently increased in southern Kandahar province as traders and investors are paying more attention to importing the Australian breed.

Brought to Afghanistan for the first time, Australorp is an Australian breed of chicken that continuously lays eggs throughout the year.

Mullah Alauddin, a resident of Kandahar city, is among people who have invested in the sector in Kandahar.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News that he brought Australorp chickens to Kandahar for the first time a year ago and raised them and they gave good results in terms of producing eggs.

He said so far he had sold 9,000 chickens to people in Kandahar and some other provinces and farms of the breed were increasing.

“We plan to bring thousands more Australorp chickens because it is a good breed, their eggs are big and lay eggs continuously for three years.”

Mohammad Tahir, who raises these chickens and exports them to other provinces, also said the demand for the Australian breed had lately increased and their farms were on the increase.

He told Pajhwok said one imported hen was sold for 600 to 700 afghanis —  higher rate than domestic chickens.

He added if raised properly, these hens would produce eggs continuously and their offspring would easily increase.

He said people’s interest in Australian chickens had grown because their eggs were big and they continuous laid eggs. “Most people raise these chickens at home and sell their eggs.”

Mohammad Omar, a resident of Kandahar city, has purchased 20 Australorp chickens and is raising them at home. He said he bought the chickens a month ago and some of them had started giving eggs.

He said if all the hens started laying eggs, he would daily earn 260 afghanis by selling 20 eggs.

He added: “If properly cared, these hens will lay eggs every day and one egg is sold for 12 or 13 afghanis, which is 250 afghanis a day.” He wanted to increase the number of hens in order to earn more.

Kandahar Agriculture and Livestock Department officials also say the foreign chickens not only continuously lay eggs, but have the ability to withstand adverse conditions and resist diseases better than other chickens.

Mohammadullah Noori, livestock section manager at the Agriculture and Livestock Department, said businessmen were being encouraged to import goats, chickens and other animals from foreign countries to Kandahar in order to increase breeds here.

He said: “Traders recently imported chickens and other birds to Kandahar besides goats to increase their bread here and to improve people’s economy. After goats, Australian hens were imported that have good results in terms of egg production”.

Traders and investors also import ostriches, peacocks and other kinds of birds and animals to Kandahar in order to increase their breeds.

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