Myagdi. Indra Prasad Subedi, a resident of Jaljala rural municipality-5, Lekphant in Parbat district, is blind to both eyes. People know by their voice. You need an assistant to walk away from home.

Despite being physically handicapped, Indra Prasad has established himself as a successful entrepreneur by running an agricultural farm. Before starting the farm, Indra Prasad worked hard for 13 years in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. I didn’t get as much success as I expected overseas.

He lost his eyesight while working in machinery and equipment abroad. When Indra Prasad, who returned home after suffering from eye problems, told him about his plan to establish an agriculture farm 10 years ago, many people did not believe him. “Even though my eyes got damaged after returning from abroad, I did not lose courage,” he said. ’

The Indradevi Agriculture Farm run by Indra Prasad and his wife has provided part-time employment to five people. The income earned from the agricultural farm is used to run the household and he has enrolled his daughter in Kathmandu with a bachelor’s degree in science.

He has spent his income on eye treatment but has not been successful. According to Dr. Indra Prasad, the treatment was not successful even though he went to big hospitals and ophthalmologists due to lack of recognition of the eye problem. Indra Prasad doesn’t have to wander around looking for workers.

Workers come home looking for work. There is an orange orchard in 20 ropanis of land around the house. He has cultivated cabbage, cauliflower and ginger as interim crops by utilizing the land inside the orange orchard. He has cultivated potatoes on 30 ropanis of land nearby.

Last year, 80 quintals of potatoes worth Rs 400,000 were sold, according to Indra Prasad. Seasonal and off-season vegetables generate additional income. He also keeps buffaloes and goats. There is no problem in transporting the produced vegetables to the market as the unpaved road has reached the village. They collect the demand through the phone and send vegetables to the traders of Beni, Kushma and Baglung. The merchants send money to the account.

Vice-chairperson of Jaljala Rural Municipality Deepak Acharya said that Indra Prasad had given a message that even if one is physically disabled, one can achieve success if one does not lose courage. “Indra Prasad is an example that physical disability does not become a hindrance to do business and enterprise if he has courage and family members,” he said, adding, “The rural municipality has provided technical and financial support to him for farming.” ’

Acharya said that the Hilly Area Wood and Fruits Development Project has provided 50 percent grant for the purchase of saplings, digging trenches, purchase of equipment and pond construction.