In collaboration with FAO and the Poultry Veterinarian Association, the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture launched a roadmap to reduce the use of antimicrobials in livestock by up to 40 percent by 2029 on 4 March 2023. The parties also launched three other publications: (1) Poultry disease manual 2023 edition; (2) General guidelines for the stewardship of antimicrobials in the livestock and animal health sector; and (3) IEC materials on antimicrobial stewardship. It is an elaboration of the 2020-2024 National Action Plan for AMR that supports the government's strategy to increase the participation of all sectors in implementing responsible antimicrobial use practices. The roadmap launched serve as a significant milestone in enhancing AMR control through a multisectoral One Health approach that can be used at all levels.

Workshop on animal health threats preparedness
In response to avian influenza A (H5N1) cases in humans in Cambodia, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with FAO, organized a national animal diseases prevention and control workshop on 10 March 2023. Funded by USAID, the workshop brought over 200 participants from national and provincial authorities and private sectors to raise awareness and advocate for local authorities to strengthen the prevention and control of animal diseases and zoonoses, and to introduce regulations on disease-free establishment and zoning (Circular24/2022/TT-BNNPTNT, 12 December 2022).

Kick-off for the lumpy skin disease course
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) has caused significant economic losses for farmers in Indonesia. With the recent development of LSD in 2022, FAO, with funding from USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), has supported the trainings for community vaccination officers, vaccination logistics, community education and campaigns, as well as expert consultation and multisectoral policy advocacy. As part of this ongoing support, the FAO Virtual Learning Centre for Asia and the Pacific (VLC RAP), together with FAO Indonesia, the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD), the Emergency Management Centre (EMC) and the Emergency Prevention System for Animal Health (EMPRES), launched the LSD course for over 500 Indonesian animal health officers and veterinarians on 8 March 2023. The one-month course aims to increase their capacity to be able to intensify the education activity for farmers on LSD detection, prevention and control.

Biosecurity training for farmers
In March 2023, the Viet Nam National Agriculture Extension Center and FAO organized four-day training courses for farmers in Ha Nam and Thai Nguyen provinces with funding from USAID. Following the training, the trainees will develop model pig farms with enhanced biosecurity and good management practices toward reducing disease risks and antimicrobial use.

Animal health laboratory coordination meeting
On 9 March 2023, the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP), in collaboration with FAO, organized a coordination meeting on the animal health laboratory network, gathering 42 participants who are the heads of public, non-governmental organizations and university laboratories. Funded by USAID, the meeting offered an excellent opportunity to exchange information on their current and future activities with animal health laboratories. This will lay a path for future collaboration and the possibility of setting up a nationwide network of animal health laboratories, leading to better and earlier animal disease prevention, detection and control.