<![CDATA[Water quality is central to sustainable agricultural production and ensuring food security. This study assessed the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of water resources in the Santa Agrarian Basin, Cameroon, to determine their suitability for food crop irrigation. Twenty sampling points, comprising ten surface water and ten groundwater sources across five communities, were sampled during the dry (January–March 2024) and rainy (June–August 2024) seasons and analyzed for pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, iron, manganese, ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, and fecal coliforms, with results compared against FAO irrigation water quality guidelines. The surface water pH ranged from 5.2 to 6.75, while electrical conductivity, iron, and manganese exceeded FAO thresholds in several communities, particularly Baba and Pinyin. Ammonium and nitrate concentrations rose sharply in the rainy season, exceeding the FAO limits by wide margins. The phosphate levels remained within acceptable limits. Bacteriological analysis detected fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli in 60% of the surface water samples, exceeding the FAO and Agriculture Organization safety thresholds for irrigation. These findings indicate localized but recurring water quality concerns linked to agricultural and sanitation practices. This study recommends integrated water resource management, farmer education, and low-cost treatment to safeguard irrigation water quality and food safety in the basin.]]>
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