No Legs, No Issue: Farmer Makes The Most Of His Gifts

Kwasi Kumbepueru is a 33 year old farmer at Miawani in Kintampo North District of Bono East Region.Though physically challenged, he braces all storms, with great attitude, to perform every task on his farm. Kwasi was born a normal baby but became physically challenged at a tender age due to what he says are family issues he

would want to keep private. For him, he also believes, nothing should stop him from getting things done to achieve his aspirations.Like other incredible people who do not have legs, Kwasi does focus on what he can do rather on what he can’t. He rides a small motorbike for ten minutes to get to his 37-acre farm daily to attend to

his crops.Kwasi then spends about 30 minutes to inspect three traps he has set for game.His targets are squirrels, bush rabbits, rats, and wild guinea fowls which provide good food for the family whenever he is lucky to have a good hunt. The sight of Kwasi busy at work, leaves one wondering if there is anything he

cannot do. Kwesi is a great example of a person who is making the most of his gifts. His positive attitude, courage and work ethic make him a true inspiration. He boasts of large stock of agricultural crops and livestock; yam, cassava, groundnut, maize, goats, sheep, and poultry.Averagely, he makes GHS10, 000 each good

farming season, besides what he feeds his family with. He gets support from farmhands that he employs.In bad seasons when the weather fails, like other farmers, Kwasi suffers poor yield and consequently, a drop in income.Besides farming, Kwasi is five in a fold he is a mechanic, butcher, pub operator and cobbler. He

doesn’t need a second person to check and service his broken down motorbike, cobble defective footwear or slaughter and dress an animal for food.Unfortunately, why Kwasi dropped-out of school is hard to explain. I can’t tell why I left the four corners of the classroom he says, but he recounts he could not cope with classroom

work so easily.It however didn’t push him to join hundreds of others like him who resort to begging on the streets. Kwasi sometimes regrets his condition, especially, when he remembers his hey-days or sees his colleagues actively walking and enjoying themselves. It pains me when I have to only sit and look at them. It is

painful, he laments.Events at which people dance and have fun are no-go area for Kwasi. Some of my friends would be dancing and wriggling their waist but I only have to sit quietly and watch,” he recalls.Despite the entire shortcoming, Kwasi looks forward to helping other vulnerable people, especially, farmers. He says, I

am ready to help anyone who wants to venture into farming. The native of of Jirapa in Upper West Region, is married with two children, a male and a female. Kwasi has lived at Miawani for the past fifteen years, having migrated at the age of 18.Kintampo North Municipal Assembly is providing special treatment to

Kwasi and other physically challenged farmers. Municipal Director, Simon Yambor, says, his outfit visits him regularly to provide extension services. He is an inspiration to many farmers here. We can’t therefore allow that inspiration to die, the agriculture director emphasized. Many village folks admire Kwasi for his

energy and hard work. In fact, they see him as a legend. You will marvel how he pays attention to his work. He doesn’t and wouldn’t give up, one of the village folks says.Ambitious Kwasi looks forward to clinching the National Best Farmer Award one day.