On Saturday, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources urged people to quit defecating, bathing, washing, and carelessly disposing of solid wastes in irrigation systems and waterways.
This request was made by the minister, Suleiman Adamu, in a statement made during a workshop on increasing women's participation in water users' associations (WUAs) for irrigated agriculture.
Oyeronke Oluniyi, the director of irrigation and drainage for the ministry, attended the training on behalf of Mr Adamu.
He stated that villages with irrigation sites had a culture of abusing waterways, and he instructed the river basin development authorities to promote women's involvement in the operation and upkeep of irrigation systems.
A well-organized water user group, in his opinion, supports sustainable and better-managed irrigation agriculture.
“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 irrigation agriculture.
He commended the contribution of the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority for the performance of the management transfer process from government-controlled to farmer-managed.
Mr Adamu called on women and youths to promote the attainment of good quality water in canals and reservoirs for safe crop production through irrigation.
The ministry organised the workshop in collaboration with the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority.
(NAN)