AMR can be reduced through farming systems approach

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms to acquire resistance genes against the drugs manufactured to control them. World Health Organization forecast reveals that AMR will emerge as one of the major threats affecting death of millions of people annually by 2050. AMR Globally World Health Organization and World Health Organization for animal health (OIE) developed AMR global plan or good agriculture practices to counteract AMR during 2015.  This envisages in appropriate interventions in food production systems especially agriculture and livestock production to offer standardized and coherent framework. This includes public awareness programmes, surveillance, prevalence of quantification of resistance, infection control, use optimization and investments in new treatments and diagnostics. Animal agriculture especially livestock production and fisheries sectors are the major targets for AMR interventions across the world. Over use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry production is attributed to low compliance by regulatory agencies. Most often the farmers are not taking in to account the long-term impact of antibiotic use but their interest is short term gain. In most of the cases animal and poultry farmers misinterpret some of the non-infectious diseases due to climate change and administer heavy doses of antibiotics.  Data available on use of type of antibiotic and their usage are comparatively scarce. Moreover, there is an apprehension about whether these antibiotics are coming under WHO or food safety and standards act compliance? Usage of antibiotics can be reduced through appropriate biosecurity and biosafety measures. But the cost involved in this sector may not be affordable to poor farming communities. Usage of antibiotics as growth promoters can be substituted with increasing molecules of probiotics.  Emergence, prevalence and existence of AMR is a reality across the world; but the prevalence rate is more in developing countries like India. This issue can be addressed only through farming systems approach where in small holder and commercial farming enterprises may be given customized interventions. Traceability issues are most often detected while exporting the products to developed nations. But consumption of livestock products with more than permissible level of antibiotics may ultimately lead to resistance against the antibiotics used. At a time when agriculture is moving towards agribusiness and food processing, opportunities for protein rich ready to eat and ready to cook food products are on the rise.

 

                        Regulatory agencies must focus on compliance of appropriate usage of antibiotics. Like precision farming in agriculture, animal agriculture also requires good milk production, meat production and poultry production strategies to assure food safety of products in tune with the OIE guidelines on AMR. This requires lot of research work at the field level along with extension programmes so that precision use of antibiotics can be assured. The impact of antibiotic use on humans, animals and environment requires appropriate surveillance. Large scale commercial and small-scale poultry production need to be viewed separately. Withdrawal period of antibiotics and the scientific protocols for usage based on the products must be made aware among potential stakeholders. Veterinarians can play a key role in assuring strict compliance. Unfortunately, the current practice is unscientific use of antibiotics without considering the impact on health or environment. Farmers and farm staff must be given capacity building on antimicrobial use. Timely diagnosis, treatment and data analytics coupled with good production practices can ensure sustainable one health strategy against AMR.

Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan, Former Director( Entrepreneurship), Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University& Currently  Professor, Transdisciplinary University of Health Sciences & Technology, Bengaluru