Federal Ministry of Water Resources on Saturday warned communities against defecating, bathing, washing and indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes in rivers, streams and in irrigation facilities.
The minister, Suleiman Adamu Kazaure, made this call in a statement issued at the end of a sensitisation workshop for Women’s participation in Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) for Irrigated Agriculture.
Kazaure was represented at the workshop by Mrs Oyeronke Oluniyi, Director, Irrigation and Drainage at the ministry.
He noted that the culture of abuse of waterways was common in communities hosting irrigation sites and charged river basin development authorities to encourage women’s participation in the operation and maintenance of irrigation systems.
According to him, a well-structured Water User Association promotes sustainable and better-managed irrigated agriculture.
He said the quality of water used for irrigation was essential for the yield and quantity of crops, maintenance of soil productivity, and protection of the environment.
“Quality of water is also of great significance to human health, as it is in foods eaten raw or cooked.
“The quality of irrigation water depends on many factors for its successful application and beneficial uses; they include soil type, irrigation methods adopted and drainage conditions of the area.
“These constituents affecting the suitability of irrigation water for agriculture are greatly dependent on the activities and practices of inhabitants within the catchment areas of irrigation schemes,’’ he said.
The minister assured that the Federal Government was committed to achieving food security, poverty alleviation, and job and wealth creation through sustainable irrigated agriculture.
The workshop was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority.