Musa Abdullahi is a person with physical disability and a farmer from Barkin -ladi local government of Plateau state. He is married and his marriage is blessed with eight Children.
In this interview, he shared with our correspondent, Bulus Baba Izang on how he has managed his farming business inspite of his disability
TQM. Were you born with disability or how did it happened?
I was not born with disability. In 1988, a building collapsed on me, with my two legs badly affected, l was taken to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) where l spent two months on admission, l got better, but l was left deformed as a result, l can now walk with the aid of a walking stick.
TQM. Were you able to go to School?
Before the incident happened, l was in class five in primary school. But after the incident, l could not continue with my education because of the distance between our home and the school. With my status as a person with disability, there is no way l could walk long distances.
ADVERTISEMENT
TQM. What are you now doing for a living?
I am a farmer and l also keep some cattle. When I was a boy, before the incident of the collapsed building. I was practicing farming and cattle keeping.
TQM. You are a person with disability, how do you do your farming?
I pay people to do the activities for me, from the cultivation of the land, to harvesting, likewise, l pay people to care of the cattle for me.
TQM. What are some of the challenges you face in hiring people to carry out these work for you?
Number one challenge is lack of funds, sometimes, l will want to do some aspect of farming activity, but l do not have money at hand, l will have to wait, but the crops will not wait for me. Sometimes, l gets to do it late or not even doing it at all. This affects the yield of the crops.
My second challenge is that, since the workers are hired hands, they don’t do the work as l would want it to be.
TQM. Have you received any support from the government or individuals towards your business?
No. I have not.
TQM. What will be your request to the government and other individuals in that regard?
My request is that government and other individuals should help me with farm inputs or money so that l can expand my business, even if it is in the form of loan, l will be happy.
TQM. Musa, thank you for your time.
Thanks.
