An elderly carpenter in Afghanistan’s central Ghazni province says declining work and widespread poverty have forced him to turn to farming alongside his trade, but the income from both remains insufficient to meet his family’s basic needs.
Hussain Bakhsh, who lives in a village in Nahur district, told Amu TV that he is the sole breadwinner for his family of seven and has worked as a carpenter for the past 15 years.
To supplement his income, Bakhsh also farms, hoping to provide for his family without having to depend on others. But years of physically demanding work have taken a toll, while his earnings remain meager.
“Overall, no one is satisfied with their work, but in our area, I am particularly dissatisfied because there is very little work,” Bakhsh said. “The carpentry jobs we get here are mostly repairs — fixing doors and gates. There is no other work.”
Bakhsh said his income has fallen so low that he cannot afford to hire an apprentice, leaving him to perform heavy and potentially dangerous carpentry work on his own.
His difficulties also reflect the economic conditions facing other families in the village. Bakhsh said some customers are unable to pay him even after he completes work for them.
“Many people come to me, and after I solve their problem, they just pray for me instead of paying,” he said. “I cannot ask them for anything because I know they don’t have the money.”
Afghanistan continues to face widespread poverty and food insecurity, with millions of people struggling to afford basic necessities.
The Norwegian Refugee Council recently warned that about one-third of Afghanistan’s population could face hunger this winter. The organization said nearly 16 million people are already unable to access the food they need, citing inflation, high unemployment, climate pressures and declining humanitarian assistance among the factors worsening the crisis.
For Bakhsh, taking on two physically demanding jobs has still not provided his family with financial security. His experience illustrates the economic pressures facing rural families as limited employment and poverty leave many struggling to meet even their most basic needs.
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