The U.S. Government is committed to creating economic opportunities for women, and building their skills so that they can support themselves and their families. Over the past few years, the USG has helped women open and operate dairy processing centers to make and sell cheese. In the eastern region of Afghanistan, seven women-owned Spinghar Cheese Processing Centers are now self-sustainable, and are no longer receiving any financial assistance.
The United States continues to support these women entrepreneurs through training and marketing assistance. Technical support ensures clean cheese-making procedures and the continued sustainability of the centers. In the last two weeks of August 2009, 250 kg
of cheese was marketed in eastern Afghanistan. USAID is also helping 20 women establish two new cheese-processing centers in Nangarhar province.