A DISABLE FARMER THRIVES IN FARMING DESPITE CHALLENGES AND CALLS FOR SUPPORT

AGAINST THE ODD-  A DISABLE FARMER VENTURES INTO AGRO -FARMING CALLS FOR SUPPORT.

Agriculture sector is backbone of dependency across the developing world, but it is one where disabled people face some of the greatest prejudice and exclusion. Poverty and disability are intrinsically linked, across the world 43 per cent of people with a disability live in poverty. On this scale they are the most vulnerable to this or affected greatly. Poverty may lead to disability through poor living conditions, malnutrition and lack of access to health services. Conversely, disability leads to poverty though lack of employment and education opportunities, and limited access to health and social services.

Two kilometers away from the beehives activities, the buzzing, and hustling of the town we made a trip to the village of Makoror. We met Mohamed Abdi a disable father age 55-year.

While arguments whether the people with disabilities if they can bring changes on their lives in engaging farming as we know pastoral community decades were favoring livestock keeping with droughts ravaging years in years out they navigated this vicious cycle to undertake alternative way of life so that to deal with the extreme harsh weather. 

Mohamed Abdi was previous seek refuge from West of Wajir, he was displaced by the inter-clan clashes happened in 1997 far West of Wajir border Marsabit and Wajir West, he lost all his herders on the tribal clashes as he narrates to me.

“I lost all my livestock for the safety purpose I seek refuge in Arbajahan before moving here in Makoror village” said. He already made a choice so as to support his family.

In a vast, dry region where water is scarce and drought is the norm, the father of eights has adopted irrigation agriculture.

Now he makes his daily bread through small less hector of land despite physically challenged, Abdi supervise the small farm, give skills, advice to his children and wife at least to put a meal on the table.

When we visited we met him on the wheelchair strolling, pushed by his child he welcomed us with smile.

His farm like any other firms in Wajir he is among case study in bid to encourage area residents to diversify since Wajir is one of the regions in Kenya that has been badly affected by extreme weather.

While many pastrolist have lost their livestock to drought over the years, clashes and natural disaster Mohamed is not regretting the decision he made twelve years ago.

Abdi’s passion for farming started when immediately he lost his animals on the clashes, further he was paralyzed by polio he had no option to look away to raise his children. When I came here in Makoror in 1997 from Arbajahan as internally displaced person I had no choice only to seek a leeway to help myself and my beloved families that is when I venture into farming though was not such easy task to indulge as disable person I think you can feel how its stressful but well I made all the way till today despite challenges I strength my heart on this small firm” says Mohamed.

Now he is securing his small inputs from the farm, irrigation agriculture is the way to go in the region.

He dedicated a portion of his land to a farming and some he gave to the less unfortunates in his neighbor who were also displaced persons with nothing. 

“I give all plots around me for free because they had nothing to shelter” said Abdi

Mohamed currently grows some pawpaw trees, nippier grass, peppers, nursey tress. After every good season approximately he earns ksh 600 in a day to support his family, for the last few month as the drought continues ravaging in the County there was less production in the farm. Lack of water, lack inadequate sufficient support from any stakeholders.

“if I was give support, more capability building then today I could be far better where I am now, even I am disable man I have rich heart of which I believe I can prosper better than anyone who is not physically challenged” said Abdi 

In addition, Mohammed uses mulch and compost manure with the aim of not only conserving water, but also to maintain soil fertility.

On climate change, for the few months the production of the products especially the inputs used to get from the farm dwindle vigorously compared to other seasons. 

“The global warming is a big challenge to farming especially on this jungle remote land, it needs lots of water, someone must heavenly invest to counter-do all challenges for better harvest but now we are all poor how can we mitigate such perils it’s too difficult to maintain farming, we need more hands to join hands to capitalize it or empower us through any means”. Said. Mohamed

But undertaking farming is not without challenges, “Because of the salinity of the water, the drips and pipes have to be changed regularly. This is in addition to the fact that water levels sometimes go down because of drought,” He added.

A pipe long enough to supply water in the whole farm costs Sh15,000 – 30,000 while a drip kit for a three-quarter farm is Sh. 35,000 or more of which people like Mohamed cannot able to buy. With his hard work he maintains that farming is the only backbone to progress either socioeconomic aspects for the pastoralist communities to adopt. 

Mohamed used over five thousand to sink each well. He uses diesel to pumps in one well but for long the engine he used to draw from the well is warning out living him in discourage.

“This engine is too old, worn out cannot pump water out consistently if I get good Samaritan then surely this could be my biggest input I could have been achieved” pause Abdi

On the compound we saw there are few goats and sheep as source of milk for family consumption.

And with the need to monitor weather and market, Mzee Mohammed uses Wajir Community Radio to know commodity prices, market forces as well as get weather updates. He is a great fun of the radio on the eve of ploughing, weeding or working of his farm he gets all coverage proceedings as it happened. 

“Wajir Community Radio has fully empowered us especially the people with disabilities, we never had such chance we had today since WCR was officiated, we are from the dark to the light today we are enhanced through Wajir Community Radio. We are much considered it’s a platform of change we thank you.” Said Mohamed 

His family are great comrades too who stood with him firm as they show painstakingly effort in together they reach their admiration at least to maintain their stomach and to support themselves economically.

“Irrigation-farming is a sure bet to tackling poverty and lack of food in our Nation,” he said

As the Nation is upbeat to the four Big agenda that has been promised by the jubilee administration there is need for more consultative engagement by all stakeholders.

As farm entrepreneur there are huge challenged which are bottleneck to the realization of a breakthrough in agriculture especially for the disable people, there number of issues need to be tackled of which a father to eight children applaud. For capital, technology inputs, infrastructure, agricultural apparatus and good policy.

Father like Mohamed needs assistance to strengthen his ambition we have seen how successfully he is despite he is challenged physically it’s our prayer mzee Mohamed will be helped.

“I only need support as disable we seek our rights which is stipulated in the law, additionally my appeal to all well-wishers I seek your full unconditional hand and I no doubt my farm can be the leading food basket producing in the County” . Pause Mohamed.

 The causes of disability are often directly related to food insecurity and poverty. According to the UN, malnutrition causes 20 per cent of disabilities, including stunting and learning disabilities.

 The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the number of people affected by disability is significant, making up 15 per cent of the global population, a number that rises dramatically for the poorest people and people in post-conflict countries.

Despite agriculture being the second biggest employment sector worldwide - almost 60 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa and 35 per cent globally - people with disabilities are frequently excluded from agricultural employment opportunities.

 In developing countries, 80-90 per cent of people of working age with disabilities are unemployed, whereas in industrialized countries the figure is between 50-70 per cent.