SHIBERGHAN (PAN): Officials in northern Jawzjan province said on Saturday the number of Karakul sheep had increased with change in weather conditions.
Over the decades, Karakul fur products have been one of Afghanistan’s main exports and sources of foreign exchange revenue.
Based on a survey, Jawzjan has one million sheep, including 300,000 Karakul sheep, livestock official Abdul Ahad told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He said: “Two years ago there were only 200,000 sheep in the province, but with improvement in the weather and feed, the number has increased.”
He added currently his department was breeding 370 rams (male Karakul sheep). The rams, also called bucks, would be sold to livestock farmers to produce original sheep.
Based on 2011 agriculture ministry estimates, Afghanistan exported Karakul sheep leather worth $3.5 million.
mrh/mud
