That is the call of Michael Griffin, senior policy officer of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
He told the WEEKEND NATION the scourge of praedial larceny required as much attention as was paid to a malady such as HIV/AIDS.
He said crop theft was the most significant disincentive for farmers throughout the region, moreso than price increases in fertilisers or fuel.
"Praedial larceny needs to be seen [with the same intensity] as the way people see HIV/AIDS," he said.
"It has to be seen as a societal problem and addressed in a broad manner. You can't just address it as 'agriculture'. It involves a change of attitudes that can be brought about through publicity and education."
He also agreed that existing legislation did not act in favour of the farmers.
"The legislation is either not applied or when it is applied, it's very difficult to bring a conviction," he said.
He added it was difficult, if not near impossible, to place a monetary value on the crops stolen from farmers over the years as most, frustrated with the system, no longer bothered to report their losses.
Agriculturist Dr Frances Chandler identified some recent losses through her interaction with farmers.
So far for this year, 600 pounds of carrots were stolen from Brighton Plantation in St George worth about $2 000; 6 200 pounds of sweet potatoes and 6 000 pounds of cassava of unknown value from Barbados Farms; and 5 500 pounds of yams and 4 500 pounds of potatoes from CLICO farms.
Last year 22 cases of praedial larceny were reported to police, 11 of which were solved. For the first quarter of this year, six were reported and one solved.
This compared to an overall total of 40 cases in 2006 in which 23 were solved; 49 in 2005 where 11 were solved; 41 in 2004 and 16 solved; and 44 in 2003 where six were solved.