Paving the Way for a Bright Future for His Family
Suhail Khan
Sopore: It was the year 2019 when Mohammad Shafi, a 35-year-old resident of Sopore’s Sempora, met with an accident and lost one of his legs, shattering his dreams. He had been fighting hard as a laborer, but the accident left him hopeless and helpless, with thoughts of how to help his family constantly on his mind.
“How can I help my daughter? How can we support her in continuing her education?” he wondered. And, “How can I bring a smile to my beloved wife’s face?”
The accident became an emotional ordeal for him. Tears would fall from his eyes, minute by minute, as he worried about his family.
In the darkest of times, hope emerged and something different sparked in Mohammad Shafi’s mind – the rice-cutting machine. Within no time, it became not only his best friend but also a source of survival, he shared with tears in his eyes during an interview with The Web Story.
Shafi explained that after years of trauma following the accident, everything changed in 2022 when he acquired the rice-cutting machine. That year, he was able to earn some money, which not only brought a smile to his face but also reignited his dreams for a brighter future for his family.
Despite having steel pins in one of his legs, injured Mohammad Shafi believed that there is no age limit to the dedication required for survival. He claimed that one can fight for a better life at any stage, regardless of their health condition.
“The rice-cutting machine is my weapon to fight poverty, overcome challenges, and secure a brighter future for my daughter and my wife. She has been a constant support throughout my journey,” said Shafi.
Elaborating on the benefits of the rice-cutting machine, Shafi mentioned that last year, he acquired one but couldn’t use it much due to the off-season. However, this year, he has cultivated nearly 100 kanals of land in the past month alone.
“Despite working alone, I cultivate around 20 kanals every day, charging a minimum of Rs 500 per kanal,” he stated. Shafi also mentioned that with support from another person, he could easily complete 30 kanals in a day.
Shafi described the rice-cutting machine as a time-saving device, bringing relief to farmers. It can cut paddy crops of nearly 30 kanals in a day, which used to take multiple days to complete. He added that it takes 15-20 minutes to cut paddy on one kanal of land.
Shafi’s story is an inspiration how hard work and dedication can lead to fruitful results.
Meanwhile, the agriculture department promoting machinery in farming, has distributed several machines to farmers in different areas of Kashmir.
