FAO facilitates the review and revision of draft activities of the National Action Plan on AMR 2.0 for the livestock and fisheries sectors through expert consultation

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Department of Fisheries (DoF) and the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), organized a two-day expert consultation to review and revise activities of the animal health and fisheries sector for the National Action Plan (NAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2.0 using a One Health approachon 13 –14 February 2024.  

Animal health and fisheries experts from the government and private sector convened to review the draft NAP on AMR 2.0 and update the interventions in line with the template shared by NITI Aayog. Through discussions and deliberations, participants updated the activities under six strategic priorities outlined in the NAP on AMR 2.0, while also identifying potential sources of funding for their implementation. The template was finalized with inputs from experts and identified specific action points related to project timelines, expected outcomes, and output indicators.

The following strategic priorities have been identified under NAP on AMR 2.0 

1. Improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training;
2. Strengthen knowledge and evidence through surveillance; 
3. Reduce the incidence and infection through effective infection, prevention and control;  
4. Optimize the use of antimicrobial agenda in all sectors; 
5. Promote investments for AMR activities, research and innovation;  
6. Strengthen India's leadership role in AMR. 

The valuable suggestions from the two-day session are anticipated to significantly enhance the technical value and ease of implementation of India’s response to AMR in the animal health sector. The revised draft activities will be submitted to DAHD, Government of India, for inclusion in NAP AMR 2.0, thereby strengthening India’s leadership role in addressing antimicrobial resistance in the animal health and fisheries sector. The final NAP on AMR 2.0 will be drafted by the NITI Aayog, duly converging ongoing initiatives under different ministries, so that concerted efforts towards control of AMR can be strengthened.