Influencer Halima Ali posted photos on social media last Friday showing her mother’s mango farm in northern Kenya. The pictures show rows of healthy mango trees loaded with fruit. She used them to point out the problems the farm faces and ask for help.
Halima wrote that her mother needs better access to water, solar power for pumping, improved roads, and ways to reach bigger markets. Without these, the farm stays small, and the fruit often sells cheap locally or goes to waste. She tagged leaders and asked for support from the county government or others who can help.
The farm is in Marsabit County, part of Kenya’s dry northern region. Areas like Marsabit get some rain and have land suitable for farming. Mango trees can grow there, especially varieties like apple mango. But water is the main issue. Many farmers rely on rain or shallow wells that dry up. Boreholes or irrigation would make a big difference.
Apple mango is the most common type grown in Kenya. It makes up over 80 per cent of the country’s mango production. Farmers like it for the sweet taste, red skin, and long shelf life.
Just this month, Kenya sent the first batch of fresh apple mangoes to the UK. That opened a new export market and showed the fruit can meet high standards.
Most mango farms in Kenya are in the east and coast, like Makueni and Machakos. But northern areas have potential too. The land is vast, and with the right support, crops could feed families and bring income. Poor roads mean trucks struggle to pick up fruit. Bad markets keep prices low.
People online responded to Halima’s post. Some shared her call for help. Others talked about similar issues in arid counties. Ideas came up like subsidised boreholes or solar pumps to cut costs. Groups suggested linking farmers to buyers farther away.
The government has programmes for northern Kenya. The World Bank’s North and Northeastern Development Initiative, or NEDI, focuses on water, energy, roads, and livelihoods. It started years ago to close gaps in those counties. Projects include drilling boreholes and building infrastructure.
Halima’s photos put a personal face on these problems. Her mother works hard on the farm, but basic needs hold back growth. With recent rain in parts of Marsabit, trees are doing well this season. More support could turn small farms into steady businesses.
Northern Kenya often gets attention for pastoralists and livestock. But farming is growing, with fruits like mango and pawpaw and vegetables. Community efforts and small projects help.
Halima’s move reminds everyone that simple fixes like water and roads can change lives. Many hope leaders notice and act. For now, the farm keeps producing, and Halima keeps speaking up.
