On 10 January 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized the second antimicrobial resistance (AMR) state-level advocacy meeting in Sikkim to strengthen efforts against AMR in the state. Sikkim is one of the seven states to have developed its own State Action Plan (SAP) on AMR, yet faces challenges related to implementation, financing, infrastructure, and human resources. The meeting, organized under the European Union (EU) AMR Tripartite project, aimed to address these issues through advocacy with state governments, technical presentations, and group activities to expedite the implementation of the State Action Plan on AMR.

Attended by over 50 participants, the meeting aimed to enhance stakeholders' knowledge and understanding of AMR in the agrifood sector, improve the capacity of senior animal husbandry, health, forest and wildlife and environment officials in implementing SAP protocols, and accelerate SAP activities through multisectoral engagement with government counterparts. It also focused on sharing success stories from other states to enhance the knowledge of state government officials across sectors, while updating the Sikkim Referral Lab protocols to align with the Indian Network for Fishery and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR) standards.

The mission also included a visit to Sikkim’s AMR disease diagnostic laboratory to assess its data sharing and collation mechanisms, identify challenges, and recommend targeted technical interventions to strengthen its capacity to address AMR in the animal health sector. This initiative reflects FAO’s commitment to empowering states with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to effectively address AMR.