FAISALABAD, Feb 23: Agricultural experts, research scientists, students and farmers have stressed the need to resolve the ecological issues of small farmers through technology generation process and holding of debates among the stakeholders.

These views were expressed at a two-day workshop on the "Economic of Ecological Agriculture" at the University of Agriculture here. Farhad Mazhar, managing director UBINIG, Bangladesh, introduced the South Asia Network on Food, Ecology and Culture (SANFEC) and its role in participating farmers' lead research in southeast Asian countries.

He presented the case of ecological agriculture strongly saying that the ecological agriculture was the future of small farmers. Evidence gathered by our organization from over 100,000 ecological farmers from south east Asia indicated that ecological agriculture had been more productive and could provide food security to small farmers, he added.

University of Agriculture vice-chancellor Dr Bashir Ahmed evinced keen interest in collaborating closely on the issues of ecological agriculture. He said small farmers could continue producing food and earning their livelihood while using their natural resources more intelligently.

The VC announced that University of Agriculture was ready to play its role in organizing more informed debates on the issues related to problems confronted to agricultural scientists, farmers and policy makers.

Dr Daniel Buckles, senior programme specialist, IDRC, Canada, urged the scientists, particularly from universities, to recognize the positive contribution of green revolution. But at the same time they should also prepare themselves to address the negative effects of green revolution. Dr Shahid Zia, executive director, NGO Lok Sanjh Foundation Islamabad, said that more than 100,000 farmers got displaced from their lands every year for economic problems and deteriorating natural resources.