His wife, Kone, has been a constant pillar of strength as well his guide. They walk in unison on the muddy tracks to the highway – a 7-km trek – with sacks of 150 coconuts piled on their shoulders. The wife leads the way quietly, guiding her husband. They walk 3 or 4 times a day, through mud, to ensure that their supplies get to the highway for further transportation. The logistics of ensuring their produce reaches a shelf is beyond belief. Yet, when you ask them to speak of their challenges, they smile.

“My disability doesn’t stop me. Being blind doesn’t mean I sit at home and wait for handouts. My family and I have worked hard, harder than most people who have no disability and are perfectly capable of doing normal work.”

This is starkly evident as Lucas deftly climbs up a tall coconut tree, with only a rope to support him. Using his senses to guide him, the grinning farmer quickly plucks off a few kulaus for us from the tree.