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Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor, has recommended regenerative agriculture to help combat the challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in farming practices.
He spoke at an awareness creation and sensitisation workshop for Poultry and Aquaculture value chain actors on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Awka
The two day workshop which drew stakeholders across the state was organised by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in collaboration with Management Sciences for Health (MSH)
Dr Ihejiofor, pointed out that the state government had adopted regenerative agriculture as a policy that could be used in the fight against the glowing antimicrobial threat.
He said, “In regenerative agriculture, both livestock and crops are not exposed to antimicrobial agents.
“It is a natural farming method that helps to boost the natural resistant of crops and livestock, that is one way to mitigate the danger of AMR.
“When we adopt food production systems that emphasize cooperation with nature, cooperation with even microbes rather than fighting them. When you fight microbes, they will fight back. That is the way they have been created”
Describing antimicrobial resistance as a silent pandemic and an evolutionary challenge facing humanity, the Commissioner called on the participants to take the issue seriously and amplify public awareness.
” This awareness is very important because we all have a role to play and nobody wins a war without having soldiers on the ground” he said
Earlier, Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Columba Teri Vakuru, explained that the issues of antimicrobial resistance had become a global concern due to inability to treat common infectious diseases resulting from misuse and overuse of antibiotics.
He identified some of the consequences of AMR to include, prolonged duration of diseases even with treatment, increased cost of treatment or failure and death as well as loss of livelihoods and income.
The Chief Veterinary Officer, who was represented by Dr Akinola Ibukunoluwa, Assistant Director, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, said the workshop was staged to enable participants gain knowledge in the appropriate use of antimicrobials.
The Director, Veterinary Services, Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr R.C Basil Ejidike, explained that antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi evolve to resist the drugs designed to kill them.
She identified the drivers of antimicrobial resistance, including the over prescription of antibiotics, improper completion of treatments and misuse of antibiotics in livestock farming.
Dr Ejidike, added that poor infection control and lack of hygiene contribute significantly to the spread of resistant pathogens.
Mobalaji Ajani, Communication Consultant to the Project, who spoke on effective strategies for antimicrobial awareness and social behavioural change,urged the participants to remain agents for change by championing the campaign.
The workshop was also attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Anambra State, Mrs Ifeyinwa Uzoka and Dr Samson Agbese, Secretary General, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA).
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