For more than a century, a network of canals in Egypt has brought water from the river Nile to surrounding agricultural land.

But now farmers are accusing the Ministry of Irrigation of diverting water to new neighbourhoods, leaving them with stagnant canals that are quickly turning into rubbish dumps.

On the outskirts of Cairo, the village of Abu Sir is suffering severe water shortages, making it hard for farmers to cultivate their crops while contributing to public health problems.

Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland reports from Abu Sir.