Markus Izang Usman is a person with visual disability from Jos East Local government of Plateau state. He is married and the marriage is bless with seven children. He was not born blind, it was in his teen age when he became blind.
In this interview conducted by Joshua Yenle and Bulus Izang, he spoke about being a farmer inspite of his visual impairment
TQM. Have you finished your Secondary school at that time you became blind?
As a child, l was not privileged to be sent to school by my parents, but l later on in life, enrolled myself in literacy evening classes, l was still in literacy classes, when l became blind in 1989.
After l became blind, l Later went to Vocational training center Gindiri, in Mangu local government of Plateau state, after completing that training, l then went to Vocational training center for the blind, Zawan, in Jos South local government of Plateau state.
TQM. What is Mr. Markus doing for a living?
In 1993, I gained employment with the blind workshop unit, under the social welfare of Toro local government of Bauchi State.
TQM. You have seven children, are they in school?, If they are, who is paying for their education?
They are schooling, some are in secondary school, one is doing his HND, one of my daughter is married after completing her Diploma program. l have been paying their school fees.
TQM. What is your wife doing for a living?
She is a full-time house wife and she do assist me with my farming.
TQM. Is she a person with disability?
No, she is not a person with any form of disability.
TQM. You mention farming, who is doing the farming for you?
I am doing the farming myself, if l involved other assisting hands, its just for me to finished a particular aspect in good time.
TQM. With visual disability, how do you know what to do and how to do it, when you are in your farm?
When l was in Vocational training center Gindiri, we were taught all the technics of farming, both plants and animals farming, and that is the knowledge and technics l am using to do my farming.
TQM. What type of crops do you grow?
I mostly grow Maize, beans and rice.
TQM. Farming involves inputs or money, do you get assistance from the government or other members of your community?
No, l only manage and save from my salary for the farming.
TQM. Government have in place programs of giving loans and grants to farmers, have you apply for any of them?
No, l have not apply yet, but l am planning of doing so.
TQM. The house you are staying in, are you renting or is it your house?
It is my house, l build it.
TQM. As a person with disability, do you face discrimination in your community?
No, l don’t experience discrimination, the truth is that most of my friends are people without any form of disabilities.
TQM. What would your personal call be to the government and members of the society, in terms of giving you assistance?
I would really wish to be assisted with the payment of my children’s school fees, and to be assisted with farm inputs during rainy seasons.
TQM. Thank you sir for granting us this interview.
