BY LAJA THOMAS

Federal Government has been advised to tackle poor management of water resource, which has made nonsense of the different agricultural programmes being put in place by successive administrations.

This advice was given by Hajiya Asabe Shehu Yari Adua Founder/President, Asaba Shehu Yari Adua Foundation, ASYARF, to mark the International Water Day set aside by the United Nations, with the title: “Water and Food Security in Abuja yesterday.

Hajiya Asabe Shehu Yari Adua who lamented the increasingly precarious situations across African countries, especially Nigeria, where most homes still have no access to quality water for domestic needs, affirmed that, “This has resulted in what many consider as the current threat to food security in the country. The prices of basic food items have confirmed to be on the upward swing because the country still depends on food imports, subsistence farming and frequent policy somersaults.

“Besides, only portfolio farmers primarily have access to modern means and facilities being made available by the authorities under various programmes designed to boost food production and guarantee food security.

“Agricultural loans, fertilizer, tractors, harvesters, chemicals  like pesticides and herbicides are not readily available to those peasant farmers and their cooperative unions because of official idom, corrupt tendencies and forms of abuse of office and privileges by a few” she noted.

Therefore, as we mark the 2012 Water Day, the various government agencies must demonstrate sincerity, commitment and focus in tackling all these factors that tend to imperil human existence and sustainability.

And this has to start by making sure that there is proper management of water as the veritable resources to guarantee food security and development.