Wool Spinners in Zabul Report Sharp Decline in Business

Women engaged in wool spinning in Zabul province say their business has declined sharply in recent years. They cite fading carpet markets, reduced exports and a lack of support from local institutions and foreign organizations as the main reasons.

Bibi Nazo, a wool spinner in the province, earns between 20 and 25 afghanis per day. She and other women report that this income is insufficient to cover basic living expenses or medical costs. Several spinners also described health problems linked to working by hand in polluted and non-standard conditions.

The once-thriving Afghan carpet export sector, which previously supported thousands of women, has stagnated. Wool spinners named Aqlima and Hanifa echoed concerns over limited market access and the absence of institutional assistance, leaving many households without viable alternatives for income.