Visually impaired Fahim Ferdous has become a lakhpati by rearing cattle in Kurigram. Rather than be a burden on society and his family, he chose cattle rearing as his own path to self-employment.

Fahim Ferdous is the son of day labourer Fazlar Rahman of Kale Mouza village in Belgachha union of Kurigram Sadar upazila. Even after selling three or four cattle every year, he now has six on his farm, worth about Tk 3 lakh. Instead of sitting idle with sightless eyes, Fahim spends his whole day working on the farm.

Fahim Ferdous, 22, is the son of day labourer Md Fazlar Rahman. In his father's poor household, he and his two siblings lived in hardship. His brother and sister went to school, while blind Fahim spent his days shut indoors. He lost the sight of both eyes at the age of seven.

For lack of better treatment, his sight never returned. As their son grew older, his parents worried about his future. Fahim asked his parents to buy him a cow, and with great difficulty his father, day labourer Fazlar Rahman, bought him one. From that one cow, Fahim's farm now has six.

Fahim's day is busy from the moment he wakes: feeding and bathing the cattle, tending sick animals and cutting straw. He also helps his mother with her work. Although he cannot see, he moves about like anyone else in the community. He meets his family's needs by selling three or four cattle a year from his farm.

He is no longer a burden on his family; he is now the only working person among the three siblings.

Fahim Ferdous said: "Looking after the cattle starts when I get up in the morning. I spend my time feeding them, giving them straw and helping my mother. Though I am blind, I have achieved this much with my mother's love and support. If not for my mother, I might have had to beg for a living."

His mother, Fahmida Begum, said that although Fahim is blind, he gets about as normally as anyone else and understands any task easily once it is explained. "We bought Fahim one cow, and from that he is able to earn well. I pray he never has to hold out his hand to anyone. Fahim's eyes will be treated with the money he earns, and he will get his sight back," she said.

Neighbour Amena Begum said Fahim is a good boy who works hard all day. "We always wish Fahim well. Seeing Fahim, four or five more people in the area have set up farms and are earning well."

Md Liton Mia, chairman of Belgachha union parishad, said Fahim had earned a good name by creating his own employment despite being visually impaired, and that he would try to give Fahim every kind of help to expand the farm.

Kurigram district livestock officer Md Yunus Ali said: "I wish Fahim well for what he has done by setting up a cattle farm despite being visually impaired. If entrepreneurs are created like Fahim, unemployment will be banished. Our office will give Fahim every kind of advice."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.