Leyland, T.

Planning a community animal health care programme in Afghanistan

Participatory methods were used during a survey carried out by VetAid project staff at the request of an agro-pastoral community in Daye Chopan District in Afghanistan. The survey aimed to identify decision-making processes in the community, the problems of different wealth groups, physical and cultural restraints, and indigenous technical knowledge. The methods used included wealth ranking, direct matrix ranking, disease ranking, fodder ranking and seasonal calendars.

Participatory Rural Appraisal in Afghanistan

VetAid is an NGO working in the field of community-based animal health with integrated rural development projects. In response to appeals from a community in the district of Daye Chopan in Zabul Province, Afghanistan to improve the health of their livestock, VetAid facilitated a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) to explore socio-economic aspects of the indigenous knowledge held and agricultural problems perceived by the community. A variety of participatory methods were used, although structured interviews formed the crux of the survey.