Training on aquaculture related AMR samples collection. ©GDAHP/Dr. Chea Rortana

In Cambodia, 80 percent out of the nation’s population of 17 million people, is involved in agriculture and of this, ninety percent of these are women. When it comes to livestock production, women play a significant role in animal raising especially at family-scale, taking care of hygiene and sanitation as well as feeding animals such as pigs, cattle, and poultry in the homestead. Inclusion of and investment in women is therefore essential when it comes to promoting responsible antimicrobial use in order to contain and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Antimicrobial resistance, a situation where antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs stop working or are less effective, is a global threat to humans, animals, plants and the environment. In agriculture, antibiotics and other antimicrobials are commonly used in humans, animals and plants to treat, prevent and control diseases. However, the extensive and sometimes indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in agriculture and animal husbandry has led to significant global concerns.

Since 2016, FAO has provided a series of capacity building sessions to provincial and subnational government officers, both men and women working in animal health and veterinary services. These efforts are growing a national team of trainers and laboratory officers, who further train farmers on good practices and responsible use of antimicrobial as well as relevant Codex regulations covering hygiene, good practice, monitoring and surveillance and standards of maximum residual limits i.e. the maximum allowance of antibiotics in animal feed.  Concerted efforts are being made to ensure that women are targeted with information that will empower them in daily practices and maximize their valuable contribution to reducing the spread of AMR.

The capacity building to address the spread of foodborne AMR and AMU is undertaken through various project implementation, including ACT Codex (Texts) aiming to assist the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (NAHPRI) of the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP) and other concerned departments under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries which is funded by multiple donors and partners including the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of the Republic of Korea, the Fleming Fund and the USAID.