As the national capital, Delhi may be India's seat of power, but it doesn't have complete control over its own health--an aspect that is frequently affected by the actions of its neighbours. Be it the thick smog that envelops the capital and brings the life of its residents to a grinding halt during winter, or the hidden manner in which the city ignorantly consumes antibiotic-treated food and water. Similarly, Delhi may not be home to pharmaceutical manufacturing factories, but neighbouring states with such facilities often dump waste into common water bodies. This cyclical fate is unlikely to change, say experts, until the states it shares borders with straighten up their act and have their own action plans in place.

Delhi’s unique predicament calls for unique solutions when it comes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a crisis identified as one of the top ten global threats to humanity. Antibiotics, our defence strategy against harmful microbes causing life-threatening infections, have disturbed the balance within and without. After the World Health Assembly adopted a global action plan on AMR in 2015, India followed in 2017, and Delhi became the third state to launch its plan in January 2020. 

In alignment with the national action plan, Delhi’s own has identified six strategic objectives: awareness and education; laboratory network for early diagnosis and surveillance; infection prevention and control; optimising antibiotics’ use; research; and, lastly, collaboration between national and international NGOs to implement it at the grassroots level, says Dr Sangeeta Sharma, nodal officer for the Containment of AMR for the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

Since AMR affects all spheres of life, it is addressed with a One Health approach, where the health of humans, animals, plants, and environments is taken into account in a unified manner. This has posed a bureaucratic challenge--it requires the health, food, animal husbandry, environment, and industry ministries to work together.

Progress report

As part of the capital’s action plan, doctors, pharmacists, and nurses have undergone training programmes to build capacity, and students and teachers are being educated about antibiotic misuse and resistance. “Often, antibiotics are prescribed ‘just in case’ for conditions like coughs, colds, upper respiratory illnesses, and acute watery diarrhoea, which are predominantly viral and do not require these medicines,” says Dr Sharma, who is also the president of the Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD). “In 2022, we launched an integrated diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship programme to improve diagnosis and reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. So far, we have trained more than 1,000 doctors, 1,600 nurses, and 450 clinicians.”

When it comes to pharmacists, the focus has been tackling self-medication by buyers and preventing over-the-counter sales of antibiotics. “The DSPRUD also undertook awareness drives for the schools urging people to not use medicines without a doctor’s go-ahead and not to buy antibiotics (especially HI1 drugs) over the counter without prescription,” Dr Sharma adds.

Food is not something that the Union Territory produces daily, and neither is most of its poultry. All of it comes from the states surrounding it.

The plan calls for a particular focus on school students, encouraging and training them to spread the word among the general public. “We wanted children to talk to their parents and keep tabs on antibiotic use within their families, as we saw in the case of the firecracker campaign in Delhi, where there was a deeper penetration of the message,” says Dr Ravindra Aggarwal, chief coordinator, AMR, Government of NCT of Delhi.

Over two years, awareness campaigns organised in collaboration with the WHO, DSPRUD, and the National Centre for Disease Control have reached out to 900,000 students and 3,500 teachers. Most recently, a partnership with the non-profit organisation ECHO India enabled over 250 teachers to be trained, across October and November. Discussions among educators have been centred on the identification of misuse and its prevention, with the aim that the teachers will spread knowledge among their students and communities, Dr Aggarwal added.

Also read: Inside Tamil Nadu's battle against AMR

Unique predicament

 “As a coastal state, Kerala prioritises aquaculture. Whereas Delhi lacks a coast or farmland, thus relying on neighbouring states for food supplies. In that sense, it is a consumption state. Food is not something that the Union Territory produces daily, and neither is most of its poultry. All of it comes from the states surrounding it,” says Dr Robin Paul, a senior veterinarian and consultant at the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The city’s multi-tiered healthcare infrastructure also presents unique challenges. The Union Territory houses a diverse range of healthcare settings, from sub-centres and primary health facilities to super-specialty centres, each with their distinct problems and varying complexities. “The use of antibiotics varies greatly, from minor surgeries to transplants. To preserve the efficacy of antibiotics in life-threatening operations, we need to know which antibiotic to use in the first place,” Dr Sharma adds. The formulation of Delhi’s action plan involves 120 stakeholders from 17 different levels of healthcare to address this multi sectoral and multidisciplinary challenge, she explains.

Also read: Kerala is winning the battle against AMR and how!

Niggling challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a shift in priorities, Dr Aggarwal says, causing AMR to be put on the backburner. “Afterward, we tried but could not set the desired tempo, as leadership at the level of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in the Delhi government changed.”

Alongside policy, regulation remains a challenge. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s decision to expand its list of flagged antibiotics, and the intent to tighten norms on the maximum residue levels of antibiotics in animal products, has emerged as a silver lining; these new norms will be effective from April 2025.

Dr Vijay Pal Singh, a veterinarian at the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research--Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), calls attention to the use of antibiotics in animal care--an alarming issue that is understudied. The former joint director at the FSSAI highlights a study conducted at the CSIR-IGIB, which found that dogs in the university's vicinity were completely resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics. Yet, these drugs continue to be rampantly prescribed to animals in veterinary care. “This research, as well as awareness and training programmes to avoid the use of antibiotics in animals, is immensely lagging,” Dr Singh says.

Part of the problem stems from the lack of an established and accepted term for AMR-related fatalities. “I may die from multiple organ failure or another condition, but it will not be marked as AMR. It is an orphaned issue that cannot be quantified or named, and thus, the urgency of the threat is overlooked,” Dr Singh adds.

The veterinarian also points to the absence of a unified platform to share data. “One Health is an entirely completely academic exercise at the moment. Each agency--the FSSAI, Export Inspection, and CDSCO--has its own regulations and laboratories.” Thus, these agencies tend to work in silos. Tackling AMR calls for mandatory surveillance to make informed decisions--which could be facilitated by a consolidated platform that keeps various stakeholders apprised of developments. “For instance, if a certain food item contains too many antibiotics, human doctors should be aware [of this] so that they can adjust their prescriptions accordingly,” Dr Singh explains.

As the rolling out of the second National Action Plan nears, Dr Sharma says that firm guidelines will be established. “However, implementing the plan’s strategic objectives is a monumental task. The government alone cannot do it. All sectors, including NGOs, must leverage each other’s strengths to make meaningful progress,” she says.

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When monsoon rains retreat from Central Gujarat's Orsang river valley, they leave behind vast stretches of silt-covered riverbed. The Orsang, flowing from Madhya Pradesh's Bhavra forest through Gujarat's Chota Udaipur district until it meets the Narmada at Chandod, becomes the lifeline for local tribal communities.

Near Chota Udaipur, tribals have mastered the art of cultivating the exposed riverbeds, a practice known as riverbed or sandbar farming. From November to February, landless tribals turn these temporary stretches into productive fields.

The monsoon's annual cycle deposits mineral-rich silt across the riverbed. As waters recede, they leave behind naturally fertilised, moisture-rich soil - perfect conditions for farming. While Gujarat’s Orsang Valley is a prime example of this method, riverbed farming stretches across India. In Himachal Pradesh’s Una district, the Rai community practices it along the Swan River, leasing land from October to June. Here farmers harness the natural flow of rivers, growing a range of vegetables as tenant farmers.

Come November, Gujarat's riverbed farmers use a simple pit-and-ditch system to prepare plots for their crops. Pumpkins, squashes, gourds, and cucumbers grow in abundance alongside long-taproot vegetables like tomatoes, okra, and cowpeas, making up 68% of all cucurbits grown in the region. Despite using basic seeds, these farmers manage to harvest two to three crops during the brief period the riverbeds are accessible. The efforts yield annual earnings of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000, crucial income for families with few other options for sustenance.

Ancient technique

Riverbed farming is believed to have originated in the Ganga river basin during the Mughal era. “I’m learning about Diara farming, or riverbed farming, in my sustainable agriculture course,” says Khushi Khan, a final-year agriculture student at a university in Baramati. “It’s the practice of growing vegetables on riverbanks or basins after the floodwaters have gone down, usually after the monsoon. This land isn’t used for anything else, so it’s a great way to make use of land that would otherwise be wasted.”

With a population of 1.4 billion and agricultural land shrinking due to urban expansion, the need to use available land efficiently has never been greater. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization reports a 20% drop in global cropland area per capita from 2001 to 2022, shrinking from 0.24 to 0.20 hectares. Amid climate unpredictability, techniques like riverbed farming offer a way to adapt and boost food security. The future of agriculture may well depend on reviving traditional practices that are attuned to nature’s cycles, making the most of limited resources.

As the world’s population grows, finding sustainable ways to meet food demands becomes crucial. Riverbed farming, an age-old technique, is emerging as a promising solution. Professor Arup Kumar Sarma from IIT Guwahati underscores the importance of riverine ecosystems for agricultural intensification.

“The rich, loamy soils of the riverbeds offer the perfect conditions for farming of these vegetables. However, determining an optimal cropping pattern to get the maximum output is challenging as at any given point in time, a part of the riverbed might be suitable for cultivation while another part of it might still be submerged,” he says.

“In such environments, there is a lot of water fluctuation and it affects the cropping pattern. It is also important to ensure that available land is not left barren so as to optimise farming,” he adds.

Riverbed farming may not be without its challenges. Farmers often deal with poor-quality seeds, unpredictable weather, and the intrusion of stray animals. Yet, studies suggest that the benefits far outweigh these hurdles. The naturally fertile, moist soil reduces the need for chemical fertilisers, irrigation, and frequent weeding, making it a low-maintenance option for farmers. More importantly, riverbed farming offers the potential for off-season cultivation, allowing for year-round harvests that can reduce food shortages and mitigate extreme price fluctuations.

Food security

India’s vast network of rivers and river plains holds immense potential for off-season farming on riverbeds. With climate change intensifying floods and encroaching on riverbeds, more silt is deposited, expanding the available farming areas. During the non-monsoon months, these lands provide an excellent window for cultivating crops in one to three cycles. This farming method could improve food security and provide a steady income for India’s landless and land-poor communities.

One particularly effective form of riverbed farming is Diara cultivation, which not only promotes food security but also addresses poverty. Diara farming offers a livelihood to those without land, enabling them to grow vegetables for sale.

“While innovative practices such as diara farming are showing promise, we need to ensure consistent technical support, training, and a reliable supply of inputs like seeds and fertilisers, along with market information, which is crucial for widespread adoption of this agricultural technique,” says Dr S Hebbar from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Riverbed farming stands as a powerful example of how ancient methods, when coupled with modern support, can provide solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today. By optimising underutilised land and boosting local economies, this practice could help secure a more sustainable and prosperous future.

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Life hit the brakes for Vijayalakshmi when she was forced to move from Bangalore to her husband’s village in Tumkur, leaving her career as a nurse in the dust. She was asked to give up her career and stay at home by her family. 

Vijayalakshmi felt lost, but instead of giving up, she looked for ways to shape her life on her own terms. Through Buzz Women, she was introduced to climate-resilient practices, which equipped her with the skills to launch her own organic kitchen garden.

In the unused courtyard of her house, she planted sapotas, brinjals, tomatoes, lady’s fingers, moringa trees, lemon trees and Kanakambara flower. Grown organically, without using chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the fresh produce from the garden changed the flavours of her kitchen. Soon, there was extra produce that she could sell. She started selling drumsticks, lemons and the Kanambara flowers in the local market, earning her Rs 10,000 every month.

A lot happened here:  Vijayalakshmi learned about climate change, adopted sustainable food habits, gave her community access to organic food, became a financially empowered eco-preneur, and, most importantly, changed her life for good.

What’s buzzing?

Buzz Women is an NGO that works towards empowering rural women with knowledge that can set them free from their financial and personal limitations. Through their interventions, rural women learn how to save money, how to start businesses, how to solve problems, how to take climate-action, and more. 

Buzz Green, their climate-resilience programme, brings climate action to rural India. “A climate-conscious rural India, led by women – that’s what we want to achieve”, says Uthara Narayanan, co-founder, Buzz Women.

Buzz Women makes it a unique intervention by not just bringing climate awareness but also bringing a financially beneficial angle for rural women to take climate action. That’s how their rural eco-preneurs are born.

While closely observing how women can find new opportunities to earn a living, Buzz Women found a surprising fact. Most rural families own small land parcels, courtyards and backyards in their houses that are hardly utilised. Most families end up spending money on buying vegetables for everyday use from the market while they could use these land parcels to grow their everyday vegetables and greens - a rather surprising blind spot.

Buzz Women decided to use this opportunity by inspiring the women to start organic kitchen gardens. Apart from becoming a sustainable source of good food, the women can save money they spend on buying their vegetables and then sell the extra produce to add to their income. Buzz Women inspired the beginning of over 1700 kitchen gardens in rural Karnataka, a number that’s increasing every day.

Kitchen gardens may seem like a Lilliputian effort in tackling climate change, but imagine: 1,700 households have shunned chemically grown vegetables. They follow water-efficient practices and maintain soil health. For a large portion of their food needs, they are no longer dependent on external food supply chains. Such gardens also add to local biodiversity. Overall, they represent a low-cost, actionable response to climate change at the individual level.

Success stories

Like Vijayalakshmi, many women are thriving by embracing organic farming. Chaitra, a 35-year-old woman from Kadrinenahallli village, initially started growing vegetables for her family after the Buzz Green programme. “By expanding to multi-crop agriculture, we started earning at least Rs 14,000 every month from our land. We now have a sense of financial stability and security”, says Chaitra.

Saraswathi, from Budidhamitte village in Kolar district, is an Anganwadi teacher. She started her organic kitchen garden and the Anganwadi now procures her produce. “I’m happy that the children of my Anganwadi are getting to eat healthy, chemical-free food”, says Saraswathi.

Shylaja works with her village Panchayat as a Master Bookkeeper. Her job requires her to visit several villages and is a popular public figure in the villages of Kolar. During her off days, Shylaja takes the initiative to visit the villages and inspires women to adopt sustainable food practices. She alone has inspired over 110 women to start kitchen gardens in their homes!

Women in the Buzz network save and earn money by being climate conscious. What we managed to create here is a crucial link between food security and financial health of rural communities.

And it’s not just kitchen gardens. There is more to the good-food practices that the women are adopting. The women who undergo this programme understand soil nutrition, use of organic fertilisers, organic pest control, water conservation, waste management and sustainability. 

Sujata started an organic cold-press oil unit in her village and has become a local voice who encourages farmers to adopt organic practices. Kantalakshmi of Kadaripura village in Kolar district suffered a liver infection and a miscarriage after consuming unsafe meat. After this dreadful experience, she started her own organic desi poultry farm. Bhagyamma produces a chemical-free tooth powder that is produced with natural ingredients. Interestingly, she also uses biodegradable packaging. When Kavitha of Manighatta village, Kolar district heard about how bees are disappearing due to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers at the Buzz Green programme, she became a bee-keeper and grows a flower garden. She earns Rs 400 to 500 per kg for organic honey that she sells.

“What we should remember here is that these are women who have had very little exposure to education. Many of them never stepped out of their houses before attending the Buzz Women programmes nor did they earn money for their families. Women in the Buzz network save and earn money by being climate conscious. What we managed to create here is a crucial link between food security and financial health of rural communities,” says Venkatesh GS, head of operations, Buzz Women.

Changing mindsets

Beyond taking climate-action in their own lives, 9,700 women now volunteer as 'Green Motivators' in their communities. These climate change agents are active in over 5,000 villages across Karnataka. They take out time to share the knowledge they have gained with the women in the village and inspire climate conscious behaviour among other women in the communities. Buzz Women’s survey says 96% of its trained women use less plastics, 76% women started carrying a cloth bag when shopping for vegetables, and 86% of the women have mobilised others in their community to pursue a green goal.

Initially, many people told us rural women will not be able to relate to an issue like climate change. But the women surprised us. They have a lived experience of climate change without the vocabulary on it or the knowledge to respond to it.

When the Buzz Green programme decided to bring awareness about climate resilience, they weren’t sure how the women would respond. “Initially, many people told us rural women will not be able to relate to an issue like climate change. But the women surprised us. They have a lived experience of climate change without the vocabulary on it or the knowledge to respond to it. When we share how they can become responsible climate change agents, they see it as an opportunity to do something bigger than themselves, for the next generation, for their communities and for the planet. And the results are beyond heartwarming,” says Uthara.

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At Manoj Sharma’s house in Thalog village, lunchtime was filled with praise for the sweet dishes on offer. Among them, amaranth kheer–creamy porridge made to perfectio–stood out. Manoj's wife, Manju, said amaranth kheer is a family favourite, a comforting dish made by lightly roasting the grain in ghee, then adding milk, sugar, and sometimes dry fruits. Properly stored, amaranth can last for years.

Known in cities like Delhi as the key ingredient in Ramdana laddoos–a staple for breaking fasts–amaranth, or rajgira, has long been celebrated as a royal grain fit for the gods.

Sadly, this ancient grain is losing favour.

Decline and challenges

“In the past decade, amaranth cultivation has significantly declined across Himachal Pradesh,” said Ashish Gupta, founder of the Gram Disha Trust, a non-profit supporting smallholder farmers and sustainable farming practices. “However, the International Year of Millets last year has sparked a renewed interest in this crop in certain mid- and high-altitude areas of the state.”

One major culprit behind the decline is the increasing use of chemical weed killers. “As the cropping season of amaranth runs parallel to dominant grains like paddy and maize, farmers sometimes clear fields using weedicides. While amaranth as a crop produces fresh leaves for food (lal saag), it is also considered a weed in modern cultivation and is sensitive to the use of weedicides,” he said.

Sharma, who has grown amaranth and foxtail millet for years, points to another challenge. “Farmers in Himachal are turning to fruits like apples, thus ignoring an ancient grain such as amaranth,” he said. On his farm, amaranth harvest is in full swing, with the grain selling for Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per quintal.

Amaranth is sown during the monsoon season alongside maize. Occasionally, a wild variety grows in forested areas, but farmers in Bag cultivate amaranth in their fields.

Bhupendra Kumar, a resident of Bag village, said people have generally forgotten about old grains, and many no longer cultivate them.

 “Our forefathers primarily used amaranth for household consumption. At that time, there was no viable market for it. Now, the grain is occasionally sold in the local market, even though there is no minimum support price. Farmers sell it at rates they find suitable. Sometimes, if lucky, a quintal can fetch as much as Rs 20,000. It is a fair rate,” said Somkishan Gautam, a farmer from Togra village in Mandi district.

Birds love the taste of the grain and eat a lot of it. Farmers try different methods to protect their crops but often struggle. Gautam said they spray a mixture of wild grass, cow urine, and chilli paste on the plants to scare off the birds. The grass, known as Gandri, grows in riverine areas and is common in Mandi district but not in higher regions. "There might be alternatives," he said, "but they aren’t as effective."

In southern India, amaranth is also on the decline. “Amaranth is grown across India, but some varieties thrive better in hilly regions. While its panicles are usually reddish, there are green varieties as well, which are mostly consumed in Karnataka,” said Nishant Bankapur, a former employee of the non-profit Sahaja Samruddha based in Karnataka. He is now an independent consultant on farming and agricultural systems, working out of Hubli in the Dharwad district.

Bankapur noted that amaranth consumption has decreased in the state, along with public awareness of its cultivation. “The area under cultivation has shrunk, and amaranth has lost its place in backyards,” he said.

However, the grain is still consumed by tribal communities in Karnataka. “In the past, people widely consumed amaranth because they recognised its nutritional value. Unfortunately, there has been little effort from the government to promote it,” Bankapur added.

He said amaranth stems and leaves were once a staple ingredient in sambar, typically served with ragi mudde (ragi balls), a popular dish in southern Karnataka. “The middle part of the stem was sweet and was called dantu, which made it a perfect addition to sambar,” he said. Over the past 20 years, however, dantu has been replaced by palak (spinach). While palak consumption was once limited, it has now become more common, making dantu increasingly rare in markets.

Cultural significance

In many regions, grains hold symbolic significance. For example, paddy is highly esteemed in states like Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, where it is used in auspicious ceremonies. In many regions, cultural associations with millets helped them survive when they were on the decline.

Over time, however, cultural significance can fade as one generation passes its traditions to the next. But Amaranth remains popular during fasting periods. “This highlights its nutritional value. Its vernacular name, Ramdana, or 'the grain of Lord Ram,' also holds cultural importance in parts of India,” said Gupta adding there are documented Sanskrit names for amaranth in historical records.

“Amaranth’s hardiness is remarkable, as it can thrive at high altitudes–up to 2,000 metres above sea level. As such, it is not only a crucial source of nutrition but also a grain of cultural importance across the country.”

In Himachal Pradesh, amaranth holds significant cultural value. Gautam said the grain is linked to the Sankranti festival, while Kumar highlighted its role during Raksha Bandhan, when rakhis tied to wrists are removed and tied to the branches of amaranth plants, a long-standing tradition. Amaranth also plays a key role in Janmashtami celebrations.

Post green revolution, high-yield crops like wheat and paddy pushed traditional grains like amaranth to the sidelines. However, efforts are underway to revive amaranth. Nekram Sharma, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2023, has been working on this for many years. "Amaranth never gained the popularity of rice and wheat, but I am trying to encourage its consumption by preparing dishes like halwa, dosa, and kheer from the grain. This has helped raise its profile."

‍More than just a grain

While amaranth is often grouped with traditional cereals, it’s scientifically classified as a pseudo-cereal–just like buckwheat and quinoa. Donald Osborn, a senior consultant and independent scholar, said these grains, while offering tremendous nutritional benefits, are part of a category that differs from the classic cereal grains. Osborn is also instrumental in the creation of the North American Millets Alliance, which seeks to broaden global access to resilient and nutritious crops like amaranth, a movement inspired by the International Year of Millets.

The efforts to revive amaranth are more than just about bringing back an old crop—they’re part of a larger mission to shift global consumption patterns toward foods that are both nutritionally rich and ecologically sustainable.

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Pradyut Bhattacharjee always felt that the conventional career path–engineering, corporate jobs–wasn’t for him. The idea of sitting in an office just didn't resonate. Instead of following the crowd, he started exploring non-profit work. When PRADAN, a well-known NGO, came to his college for placements, he was curious: Why would an NGO recruit engineers?

He joined PRADAN and started his career in Khunti, Jharkhand, working with marginalised communities. He helped connect them to government programs and improve their farming and livelihood systems. After nearly ten years, he returned to Guwahati.

Today, he’s the executive director of Seven Sisters Development Assistance, where he leads efforts to empower women by forming Self Help Groups (SHGs) and building sustainable livelihood systems.

Challenges

Having worked extensively with rural communities in food, agriculture, and farming, what common challenges have you observed that seem prevalent across different areas?

In Central India, traditional and rudimentary practices are still being followed. Irrigation facilities are minimal, and soil health is poor, resulting in very low yields. Most people rely on rain-fed cultivation, so they typically grow only one crop–usually paddy.

Food security is a major issue as people often don't have enough to eat and depend heavily on government programs. Dietary diversification is also very limited. Within families, due to gender dynamics, women and adolescent girls often have even less to eat, leading to malnutrition.

Are women more affected?

Definitely. Women are the last to eat and often get less food. Despite this, they do the same work as the men, if not more.

There is a lot of diversity in the food crops–everything from millets to vegetables is grown. However, many families sell their produce before consuming it themselves. As a result, their food intake is low and mostly cereal-based.

In contrast, in Assam, many households I worked with didn’t face food security issues because they practised integrated farming. Around their homes, they had ponds, orchards, or small kitchen gardens. However, with population growth and land fragmentation, issues of deprivation have become an issue.

In the tea gardens of Assam, malnutrition is a concern due to low wages and landlessness. People depend on buying food commodities, but their purchasing power is low, leading to acute deprivation in certain communities.

Women are the last to eat and often get less food. Despite this, they do the same work as the men, if not more.

How do self-help groups or collectives help?

We form groups, and the government promotes them too. The first step is mobilising communities into groups, which gives them a sense of solidarity and unity. Every week, each member saves a small amount, like 20-30 rupees. This forms a pool from which members can take small loans as microcredit, reducing their dependence on high-interest money lenders. They can also buy essentials when needed, something they couldn’t do before due to lack of credit.

Through self-help groups, many government schemes have become accessible. Earlier, panchayats and government departments didn’t give much attention to single women. But now, since they are united in multiple groups, they receive more recognition and support.

With access to funds, women are adopting more scientific practices, and diversification is active, which leads to higher incomes for their families. Since these groups are run by women, they are respected, which helps empower them further.

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All about the women

How many women does SeSTA work with?

We currently work with almost 2.5 lakh households. Since our primary clientele is women, you could say we engage with 2.5 lakh women across roughly 25,000 to 30,000 self-help groups. Each group typically has 10 to 12 women.

How has the response been from the women? Are more women joining after seeing others involved?

Yes, but initially, there was a lot of scepticism and opposition from the men. Slowly, as more women joined, they began to see the value. It's now becoming a common program pan India, so it has gained legitimacy. I think there is widespread acceptance around self-help groups now.

However, in a patriarchal society, resistance from men remains. Often, when women attend meetings, the men become very angry. They ask, "Who will take care of household chores like cooking?" In some cases, the loans that women take are actually used by the men.

It will take some time for this to change.

What type of training and education are being provided to the women?

SeSTA’s entire model starts with understanding their current practices and identifying the gaps.

We then sit with them for family-based planning to help them plan around their resources, such as what they can improve, what their aspirations are, and how they can achieve those aspirations. Once the women are ready to take up new activities and practices, we train them using well-designed modules.

Some of the training is classroom-based, where we teach theory, but it’s also practical. We conduct long field demonstrations because many of these women are illiterate, and classroom teaching alone isn't enough. The focus is entirely on enhancing their knowledge, skills and attitudes. Often, when we say farmer, people only picture men.

There’s a lot of work to be done on building their self-esteem. They need to start believing they can be farmers, make decisions, and become technically skilled.

This transformation requires significant effort. It’s a slow process, and we use a lot of tools–audio, visual aids, and videos.

Is there a specific group of women you're helping or training?

We generally avoid working with rich farmers who own large amounts of land or are already employed elsewhere. We primarily work with other farmers, but we categorise them based on their land holdings and abilities. We aim to provide a tailored mix of interventions.

What is the average income of these women farmers?

The baseline income is around Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per annum, and we’re working to increase it to over Rs 1,00,000 now.

Are there specific crops these women are growing?

It depends on the climate and land availability, but we focus on vegetables and cereals like paddy and maize, and oilseeds like mustard.

All our practices are organic. It’s not just about fertilisers and machinery; we also focus on seeds, water conservation and biodiversity, especially since climate change is becoming increasingly important.

We are promoting climate-friendly farming practices.

In terms of market linkages, how are you helping these women? Is the produce just locally distributed?

When we’re working with a smaller number of farmers, the produce is catered locally, mainly in small bazaars. However, in some areas where we work with a large number of farmers, marketing and securing a good price becomes an issue. In those cases, we separate them into producers and farmers.

We’re also promoting entrepreneurs who help market the products and provide high-quality inputs. In farming, you need good quality seeds and saplings, and the women entrepreneurs are supplying those.

For instance, if one woman entrepreneur caters to, say, 100 farmers, she produces all the necessary supplies and then sells them to the members, making farming easier for everyone.

What support or aid do you expect from the government?

Land registration in the woman’s name. The government should create a policy to incentivise female land ownership because it's a sensitive issue. So far, land is typically not owned by women. Fathers often do not pass land to their daughters, even though there is a law for this. Incentivising land ownership for women would be helpful.

Similarly, getting loans at low interest rates is a major challenge for women farmers and entrepreneurs. More programs could be created to address this.

To make farming easier for women, technology needs to be incorporated to reduce the physical burden. Often, activities like operating a tractor are not seen as women’s work in our society. So, simpler technology should be introduced.

What’s one book, documentary, or show you’d recommend to someone just starting out in farming?

One book that covers the issues and challenges faced by farmers and rural communities is Everybody Loves a Good Drought by P Sainath.

Vandana Shiva’s books are valuable, especially regarding climate change.

I have always studied Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. It’s one of the books that has always inspired me because it was one of the first to talk about the toxic effects of chemicals used in our food and how they enter the food chain.

India, the world’s largest producer of milk, contributing 25% to global production, is facing a serious challenge with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The widespread use of antibiotics to treat cattle infections in the dairy industry is a major driver of this crisis.

“AMR severely hampers the effective treatment of infectious diseases, leading to higher mortality rates, longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs,” says Amit Khurana, director of the Sustainable Food Systems Programme at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi.

Milk matters

Over the last decade, India's milk production has grown by about six percent annually, reaching an impressive 231 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2022-23. The growth highlights the importance of dairy farming to India’s economy, with 18 million dairy farmers spread across 230,000 villages, many of whom are women. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) aims to boost productivity so the country accounts for one-third of global milk production by 2030.

However, this achievement comes at a cost. The industry heavily relies on antibiotics to manage cattle diseases such as mastitis, a bacterial infection of the mammary glands prevalent in high-yielding crossbred cows. While crossbreeding has boosted milk production, it has also made cattle more susceptible to disease.

“Cross-breeding with exotic breeds was introduced to India mainly to enhance production of milk. This led to the loss of local breeds which have resistance to many diseases. High incidence of diseases in cross-bred animals and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in dairy animals caused high antibiotic residues in animal products like milk and meat,” states a chapter in the book, Medicinal Agroecology.

Mastitis not only threatens public health but also imposes heavy financial burdens on dairy farmers. While mastitis prevalence was below 30% in the 1960s, it now exceeds 60%. A report by the National Dairy Research Institute estimated that in 2012, mastitis caused annual economic losses of Rs 71,655 million, increasing farmers’ reliance on antibiotics as a quick fix.

Studies have found a positive link between this rise in demand for mild, a high yield and mastitis.

“Antibiotics are also eliminated in the milk till seven days post-treatment. However, there is an absence of compliance to milk withdrawal periods following antibiotic administration, which leads to antibiotic residues in milk. Hence, improper use of antibiotic therapy in milch animals poses a threat to the public, especially if milk is consumed unpasteurized,” the study states.

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Antibiotics overload

By 2030, the livestock industry is expected to account for 70% of global antimicrobial use. In India, antibiotic use in animal husbandry is predicted to double by the same period. India ranks fourth globally in antibiotic usage in livestock, but enforcement of regulations on antibiotic use in both human and animal medicine remains weak.

Researchers from CSE have pointed towards an inadequate focus on testing for antibiotic residues in the milk collected by some state milk federations, which process it and sell packaged milk and dairy products under popular brands.

“Farmers often sell milk while the animal is under treatment, which increases the chances of antibiotic residues in the milk,” says Amit Khurana of CSE. “While milk sold directly to consumers is not tested, contrary to what one would expect, processed milk sold in packets is also largely unchecked for antibiotic residues.”

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) 2018 milk quality survey found antibiotic residues in packed milk samples, revealing gaps in testing and regulation.  

While milk sold directly to consumers is not tested, contrary to what one would expect, processed milk sold in packets is also largely unchecked for antibiotic residues.

Despite efforts, several challenges sustain antibiotic misuse in India’s dairy farming. Weak regulations and limited enforcement allow over-the-counter sales of antibiotics, often without veterinary prescriptions. Inadequate veterinary services leave farmers to self-administer antibiotics, often incorrectly.

The implications of antibiotic misuse in dairy farming extend beyond cattle. Residues in milk and dairy products can introduce resistant bacteria into the human food chain through consumption of milk or dairy products, posing serious health risks to the public. Pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, common in mastitis cases, are among the resistant strains that threaten public health.

Also read: What’s lurking in your chicken dinner?

No quick fixes

Dr Nabanita Medhi, a microbiologist at Arya Hospital in Guwahati, highlights the gravity of the situation. “The number of pan and multi-drug resistance cases we encounter regularly is astounding. A matter of concern is that no new antibiotics are currently being developed globally. When patients develop resistance to the existing drugs, doctors are left with very few alternative treatment options.”

To combat AMR, experts advocate for systemic changes in the dairy industry, including the adoption of herbal remedies. Katrien van ’t Hooft, a Dutch veterinarian and livestock development expert, and founder of the Dutch Farm Experience and Natural Livestock Farming Foundation, has worked extensively with Indian dairy farmers to promote the potential of ethno-veterinary practices (EVP). These traditional, culturally-rooted methods leverage local knowledge to manage animal health and treat livestock diseases. For example, a formulation combining Aloe vera, turmeric and calcium hydroxide has proven effective against mastitis.

“Revitalise traditional knowledge on herbal medicine, train veterinarians and farmers, and develop scientific substantiation on remedies and practices concerning herbal medicine in dairy farming, gradually replacing antibiotics and other agro-chemicals with herbal products,” Katrien suggests in a co-authored study.

The fight against antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms is not solely the responsibility of farmers but requires a collaborative effort across various stakeholders.

“EVP can go a long way in replacing antibiotics in this sector and reducing antibiotic resistance. But most importantly, it is a low-cost, farmer-friendly option. It can be a game-changer in how diseases are managed without toxic chemicals in the dairy sector,” says CSE director general Sunita Narain.

To tackle AMR, experts recommend a multi-pronged approach. Strengthening farm biosecurity–by isolating sick animals, ensuring clean feeding systems, and maintaining hygiene during milking–can reduce infections and the need for antibiotics.

"The positive impact of ethno-veterinary medicine as an alternative to antimicrobial and chemical veterinary drugs is often overlooked. These remedies are primarily preventive and also curative. We have been able to reduce the incidence of mastitis by over 83% and other infectious diseases significantly. With over 1 million treated cases and an 80% cure rate, the results are undeniable. Of course, the problem is vast, but we need to take positive action" says Dr M N Balakrishnan Nair, Emeritus Professor, University of Transdisciplinary Health science and Technology, Ethnoveterinary science and practice group, Bengaluru.

Educating farmers about alternatives like vaccination and probiotics, along with the importance of veterinary-supervised antibiotic use, is crucial.

“India will need a roadmap to scale up preventive approaches related to animal housing, antibiotic alternatives, vaccines, biosecurity and resilient breeds that help reduce the occurrence of disease in food-animal farms and the need for antibiotics at its first place,” says Rajeshwari Sinha, programme manager, sustainable food systems.

“It also needs a long-term approach to reduce dependence on intensive industrial systems and promote local, decentralised food systems supported by backyard farming,” she adds.

Despite challenges, the country has made progress. In October 2024, FSSAI banned certain antibiotics in food animal production, following an earlier ban on colistin—a critically important antibiotic for human medicine. Under the Muscat Manifesto (2022), India has committed to reducing antimicrobial use in the agri-food sector by 30-50% by 2030.

(Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cgiarclimate)

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In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) directly caused 1.27 million deaths and contributed to a total of 4.95 million. Experts across health organisations, medicine, and academia agree that the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and plants are the main drivers behind the rise of drug-resistant pathogens.
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In response to this growing threat, Andhra Pradesh became the fourth state in India to introduce its own State Action Plan on AMR in June 2022. The plan, titled the Andhra Pradesh Action Plan for the Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance, outlined various strategies to tackle AMR.

One key initiative was the adoption of a culture-free diagnostic tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The tool, called AMRx®, was developed in collaboration with SCIINV Biosciences Private Limited and the Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in Puttaparthi. It aims to help doctors predict bacterial infections and prescribe antibiotics more accurately, promoting the rational use of these medicines. 

The tool is being integrated into Andhra Pradesh's government healthcare system, Dr Care, for use in public hospitals (APAP CAR report 2022, p. 53) “Integrating both these softwares takes time. We are doing multiple tests on compatibility,” said Dr Ratnakar Palakodeti, co-founder and director of SCIINV Biosciences Private Limited.

How AMRx® works

Normally, a patient tells the doctor their symptoms, and the doctor decides whether a culture test is needed. If they go ahead with the test, it identifies the cause and checks for antibiotic resistance. The doctor then prescribes the appropriate medication, but this process usually takes over 24 hours. To avoid delays, the doctor often starts the patient on antibiotics based on an educated guess, without waiting for the test results.

AMRx® changes all of that. It supports the doctor’s judgment, boosts their confidence, and often removes the need for a culture test altogether. With AMRx®, the entire process is much quicker and more efficient.

A conventional culture test costs Rs 800, but this machine learning model, trained on over 100 parameters across different demographics, provides rapid insights. It validates the doctor’s judgment, flags resistant antibiotics, and serves as a clinical decision support tool.

 "The patient consults the physician, who uses the app. If the patient had visited earlier, all records are readily available on the application. Otherwise, the physician inputs clinical symptoms–such as the history of antibiotics and current symptoms–into the app. Within two minutes, the app processes the data, even in resource-limited facilities without diagnostic centers, and predicts bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance patterns instantly."

This approach supports physicians’ decisions, reduces reliance on culture tests, and offers cost-effective insights. “A conventional culture test costs Rs 800, but this machine learning model, trained on over 100 parameters across different demographics, provides rapid insights. It validates the doctor’s judgment, flags resistant antibiotics, and serves as a clinical decision support tool,” Dr Palakodeti added.

The tool won the Startup India Grant, the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations’ Best Startup Award, and the Economic Times Award for Industry Healthcare Solution of the Year. 

Antibiotic stewardship

Antibiotic stewardship involves using antibiotics responsibly and only when needed. This includes selecting the right antibiotic, determining the correct dose, prescribing for the appropriate duration, and ensuring antibiotics are used exclusively for bacterial infections. The app has the potential to drastically cut down on antibiotic usage. 

“The tool significantly reduces the diagnostic workload. If the app determines a negative case, antibiotics don’t need to be prescribed, thus avoiding unnecessary treatment. For example, 50 percent of cultures show negative results, yet 16 percent of such patients received empirical antibiotics which were unnecessary—something this tool can help prevent," said Dr BE Pradeep, the head of Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory at the Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and the principal investigator who co-developed and clinically validated the tool.

"Between 2021 and 2023, we studied multiple hospitals across India and evaluated 15 different antibiotics for susceptibility. This tool is critical in controlling the emergence of AMR. It can integrate seamlessly with any hospital's Electronic Medical Information System (EMIS), capture essential data, and support antibiotic stewardship programs with instant updates,” he added

‍Implementation delays‍

Integrating AMRx® with the Dr Care platform, designed to create digital health records for patients visiting government health facilities in Andhra Pradesh, is a mammoth task. “Dr Care and AMRx® operate on different platforms, making integration necessary. Additionally, the data feeding process is time-consuming,”  Dr Palakodeti said. 

The tool's primary users are general physicians, and ensuring their adoption is crucial. In government hospitals, a general physician typically spends less than five minutes with each patient, juggling long hours and a heavy workload. AMRx® is designed to ease this burden, but many doctors may not be familiar with using technology. 

"Some of the doctors are hesitant as they are not familiar with using technology," said Prof Rangineni Jayaprada, a microbiologist at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) and co-principal investigator on the project. To address this, the team has been running intensive training sessions for two to three months, involving two doctors and two healthcare professionals from each government hospital across 30 medical colleges and hospitals.

The challenge is not just about rolling out a tool; it’s about ensuring it’s used effectively by those who need it most. This is where the project’s true potential lies: it’s not just a step forward for Andhra Pradesh—it’s a model that could scale across India, tackling antimicrobial resistance on a national level. The app’s success hinges on both technological integration and on-the-ground training, making it a critical experiment in how health tech can shift the entire ecosystem of healthcare in India. If it works here, it could change the way we think about tackling AMR everywhere.

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Humanity has been warned. First, by Sir Alexander Fleming, and now, decades later, by the World Health Organization: if Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) isn’t addressed, it could cause millions of preventable deaths each year.

It’s a scary thought. But do people truly understand the threat?

While researchers understood AMR through lab studies and clinical data, communicating its urgency to the public needed something more powerful. So scientists at Harvard Medical School and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology devised a powerful way to display bacterial evolution in response to antibiotics in a strikingly visual way.

Evolution on display

Famously known as the MEGA-Plate Petri dish experiment, or Microbial Evolution and Growth Arena plate, this study showed how bacteria evolve resistance over time. To capture bacterial mutations as they occurred, researchers designed a large petri dish filled with a nutrient-rich agar medium. At 2-feet long and 4-feet wide, the dish was divided into zones with increasing antibiotic concentrations, from none on the outer edges to extremely high levels at the centre.

E. coli bacteria were introduced to the outer edges, and as they multiplied, they began to spread toward the next zone with a low dose of antibiotics. In each antibiotic zone, some bacteria mutated to develop resistance, allowing them to survive and move inward. As the bacteria approached the highest concentration zones, only the most resistant strains continued to thrive.

The experiment illustrated natural selection in action, as viewers watched bacteria evolve from lower to higher antibiotic zones over two weeks. Time-lapse images captured the bacterial waves as they mutated and advanced inward. 

When bacteria fight back

The MEGA-plate experiment demonstrated how bacterial resistance develops gradually, underscoring the dangers of using low or sub-lethal doses of antibiotics, reinforcing the critical need for appropriate antibiotic use to prevent the rise of superbugs.

As bacteria progressed across the petri dish, even small populations adapted to survive, showing just how difficult it is to contain resistance, highlighting the urgency of developing alternative treatments and improving antibiotic stewardship to avoid a future where even routine infections become untreatable.

World as a petri dish

The MEGA-plate experiment is a powerful analogy for how our world acts as a breeding ground for microbial evolution, and, by extension, antibiotic resistance. Just as bacteria evolved within the controlled petri dish, microbes mutate and adapt in various ecosystems, such as soil, water, and even within our bodies, often at an accelerated pace due to human activity.

Let’s look up close.

Soil, one of the richest microbial habitats, is home to a vast diversity of bacteria and fungi, many of which naturally produce antibiotics. These microbes develop resistance genes as a survival mechanism, spreading them to other bacteria through horizontal gene transfer. Agriculture further accelerates this process by introducing antibiotics in livestock farming, creating an environment where resistant strains thrive.

Waterways face a similar threat. Antibiotic residues and resistant bacteria from sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial waste enter rivers, lakes and oceans. The water bodies act as conduits, enabling bacteria to transfer genes across diverse species, driving global antibiotic resistance.

Our bodies are not exempt; our gut microbiomes host trillions of microbes, some of which can mutate or acquire resistance genes when exposed to antibiotics. This makes our microbiomes potential incubators for antibiotic resistance, especially with improper or excessive antibiotic use.

All of these encourage the survival of only the most resistant strains, creating superbugs that withstand multiple drugs. Our actions–through antibiotic overuse, improper waste disposal, and agricultural practices–are speeding up microbial evolution and resistance.

Wake-up call

The MEGA-plate experiment is a stark wake-up call, vividly illustrating that AMR is not just a scientific concern but a global threat. The rapid spread of AMR highlights how our world has become a vast breeding ground for resistant microbes. With certain infections already becoming untreatable, AMR poses a serious threat to global health, endangering surgeries, cancer treatments, and routine medical care. The thought of a post-antibiotic era–a future where minor injuries or common infections could be fatal–is daunting.

Combating this looming crisis requires a unified response, advancing antibiotic stewardship, investing in new treatments, and adopting practices that limit the spread of resistant bacteria across healthcare, agriculture, and communities. Acting now is the only way to ensure the future of modern medicine and protect generations to come.

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In West Midnapore, West Bengal, Joymalya Halder manages a one-acre poultry farm, raising 14,000 broiler chickens five times a year. Each flock matures in just 38 to 42 days under tightly controlled conditions. The process involves three rounds of vaccinations and strict temperature regulation to ensure the birds grow optimally.

“Poultry birds are very susceptible to temperature changes. If they catch the flu—signalled by specific noises—an antibiotic is administered to prevent mortality,” said Halder.

But there’s a catch. “While antibiotics reduce mortality, they impact weight gain. Birds don’t eat as much after receiving antibiotics, which leads to losses,” he added.

Halder recalled a particularly challenging episode with a batch of 3,000 birds. “If one bird falls sick, the disease can spread rapidly, affecting the entire flock. Even a small change in the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) can cause big losses.”

An ideal FCR, Halder said, is 1.5. This means a bird should weigh 1 kg after consuming 1.5 kg of feed. But fluctuations in market prices can make or break a farmer’s bottom line. “Right now, raising a bird costs Rs 95 per kg. If the market price is between Rs 100 and Rs 110, we’re safe. But if it drops to Rs 88, we incur a loss of Rs 7 per kg. For 14,000 birds, that’s Rs 98,000 gone,” he said.

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Boon or bane?

Since the 1940s, antibiotics have been used as growth promoters (AGPs) in animal farming to meet rising global meat demand. While the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recommends avoiding AGPs in poultry feed, they remain readily available and widely used.

The implications are alarming. A joint study by Toxic Links and World Animal Protection uncovered high levels of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in poultry farms in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Samples revealed ARGs against 15 critical antibiotics in 11 out of 14 groundwater and poultry litter tests.

PK Patil, principal scientist at the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, underscored the problem’s complexity. “The unscientific use of antibiotics accelerates antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals. To effectively address AMR, we need to tackle its root causes,” he says.

Patil’s research focuses on how antibiotics degrade in the environment, particularly in soil and water. He has observed a stark contrast between India and Northern Europe. “In Europe, antibiotics persist longer in the environment. But here, high temperatures and intense sunlight speed up their degradation,” he said.

Correct usage involves knowing which antibiotics to use, their dosages, duration, and administration methods. Education on the types, concentrations, and doses of antibiotics is crucial in India.

Still, the risks remain high. Misuse of antibiotics–especially those critical for human health–blurs the line between animal and human medicine. “Some antibiotics are important for humans, while others are meant for animals. It’s crucial not to mix them, as animal-specific antibiotics should not be used in humans and vice versa. However, this distinction is often overlooked, leading to potential misuse,” he added.

Patil also stressed the importance of understanding global and Indian antibiotic usage patterns. He called for a coordinated, national-level programme to establish clear guidelines for antibiotic use and monitor AMR trends continuously.

"Correct usage involves knowing which antibiotics to use, their dosages, duration, and administration methods. Education on the types, concentrations, and doses of antibiotics is crucial in India," he said.

Mapping AMR

A recent study by the Drug Safety Division of the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) in Hyderabad has revealed critical insights into antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in poultry. Researchers analysed AMR gene profiles from chicken farms in Kerala and Telangana, uncovering distinct resistance patterns.

Southern Kerala emerged as a hotspot, showing the highest concentration of AMR genes. The study collected chicken faeces samples from farms across Central and Southern India. Genetic material from these samples underwent whole genome sequencing, uncovering significant levels of gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria.

The findings highlighted regional differences. Southern India showed a greater abundance of AMR genes compared to Central India, with E. coli more commonly detected in the southernmost areas. Interestingly, the AMR profiles from these farms resembled patterns seen in poultry farms in the European Union (EU). However, researchers found no evidence of the mcr-1 gene in E. coli—a gene associated with resistance to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic for severe infections.

Also read: How our meat industry is feeding antibiotic resistance

Growing concerns

India is the world’s third-largest egg producer and fourth-largest chicken meat producer, with broiler production concentrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana. This scale of production raises concerns about antibiotic residues in poultry products.

When laying hens receive antibiotics, traces of the drugs can build up in their eggs. After administration, antibiotics are absorbed in the chicken’s intestines and travel through the bloodstream to the ovaries and oviducts. Since the ovaries create the egg’s contents, residues are more likely to appear in the yolk and albumen.

Cooking methods such as boiling, steaming, frying, or microwaving can break down some antibiotic residues. However, research shows that boiling affects only certain drugs. This means that even when residues are undetectable, they may still pose health risks, making eggs potentially unsafe to eat.

By 2030, antimicrobial usage in India is expected to exceed the global average by 40%. In 2021 alone, the country administered 2,160 tonnes of antimicrobials to livestock. Vijay Pal Singh, principal technical officer (Veterinary) at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, emphasised the need to prioritise human-critical antibiotics.

“These are antibiotics that are considered ‘last-resort’--highly effective and essential for human health. We should ensure these antibiotics are reserved exclusively for human use,” he said.

The PM effect

Shivaji Bhattacharya, a wildlife expert and former deputy director of Animal Resource Development at the Government of West Bengal, noted that antimicrobial resistance would continue to develop even without antibiotic use.

“One cause of AMR is PM2.5, and another is the pharmaceutical industry. Untreated effluents released during antibiotic production pollute air and water, worsening the problem. As the antibiotics industry grows, so does this issue,” he said.

Research conducted across 116 countries between 2000 and 2018 revealed strong links between PM2.5 pollution and antibiotic resistance. These links have strengthened over time. According to The Lancet, PM2.5-related AMR caused an estimated 0.48 million premature deaths in 2018, resulting in 18.2 million years of life lost and an economic impact of USD 395 billion annually.

As the poultry industry continues to grow, striking a balance between productivity and sustainability is crucial. The cost of inaction may prove too high for both farmers and public health.

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