Jan 11, Kathmandu - An appeal has been made to refrain from the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in livestock. The interaction held today, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Kathmandu and coordinated by the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Expert Center, Banke, was held to address the concerns and urge people not to use antibiotics indiscriminately as it increases problems in livestock.

Stakeholders say that the problem is increasing instead of decreasing due to the treatment of sick animals and birds without the advice of a veterinarian and the use of unnecessary medicines. Dr. Ganesh Pun, Chief of the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Expert Center, urged livestock farmers to use medicines only after consulting the concerned veterinarian. He mentioned that if the authorities can be delegated to the monitors during market monitoring, there will be some improvement.

Veterinary Hospital Officer Bhojraj Rawal stressed the need to bring about improvements as it was found that food entrepreneurs were not following the instructions given by the monitoring team. Poultry Entrepreneurs Forum President Dharmaraj Pokharel complained that the problem was increasing due to the failure to stop the illegal import of chicken, fish feed and eggs from India.

Prashant Pokharel, Chief of the Food Technology and Quality Control Office, Nepalgunj, stressed the need to be serious about food safety as the main factors that spoil the hygiene of food items are physical, chemical and biological.