Mr. Adombila Atoya, a farmer from Yprogo, a suburb of the Bolgatanga municipality in the Upper East Region, expressed his joy upon receiving the award for best physical challenge farmer. He noted that the award signifies that disability is not inability, but rather a testament to perseverance.
Mr. Atoya received several items as part of his award, including a fridge, four cutlasses, a pair of Wellington boots, four bags of NPK Falcon fertilizer from ETG Ghana, 2 kg of Kynock fertilizer, a manual sheller for sowing corn, a knapsack sprayer, a bar of soap, a raincoat, a piece of GTP fabric, and a certificate. He mentioned that these items will help him improve his farming and assist his fellow farmers who may also need some equipment.
He shared that one of his biggest challenges as a farmer with a physical disability is transportation. There are times when he wants to move from one farm to another but cannot do so due to the lack of a tricycle designed for persons with disabilities, which would greatly facilitate his mobility.
Mr. Atoya also lamented that many people in his community have intimidated him for being physically challenged. Despite these struggles, he remains determined not to give up. He emphasized that, although he faces difficulties, God has granted him good health, enabling him to provide for his family rather than turning to the streets to beg, where he might face insults and further challenges.
In addition to crop farming, Mr. Atoya rears fowls, guinea fowls, goats, and sheep. He previously owned cattle but had to use some for dowry, leaving him with only a female cow. He appealed to the government, philanthropists, and NGOs for support in obtaining a tricycle, which would allow him to visit his farms regularly. Due to his physical challenges, traveling to all his farms is difficult, especially given their distance from his home.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya