A MORAVIAN PRIEST is calling on people who have land to "make it available" to those who can plant food.

Pastor of Sharon Moravian Church, Reverend Ezra Parris, said Sunday during a service as part of World Food Day, activities, that while the country's land use policy would make an impact on hunger and malnutrition, "a lot more would be accomplished when those who have the land make it available to those that use it for agriculture and who can plant food".

He added this move did not require legislation but a change of heart, a change in people's minds that could make a difference in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

"We need to be addressing the hearts of man," he told the congregation.

Parris also said that despite governments developing programmes "to their hearts' content", the right to food would only be realised when there was a change.

Tying in this year's World Food Day theme The Right To Food to the parable of Jesus feeding the multitude from two small fish and five barley loaves, he preached that people, just like the Master, needed to be caring, compassionate and sensitive to the needs of those around them.

Parris also told worshippers they should lose their "don't-carish attitude" and the belief each man should "fend for himself" – and help someone.

"Avarice and greed, matters that affect hunger and malnutrition right across the world, are not adequately addressed by programmes.

"A man or a woman would stop stealing when he or she has a change of mind and a change of heart, when he or she comes to the acknowledgement that there is injustice in stealing and . . . when he or she recognises the pain that is caused in robbing another of his or her property," Parris added.

Minister of Agriculture Senator Erskine Griffith, Permanent Secretary Frederick Forde, Chief Agricultural Officer Barton Clarke, sub-regional representative of the Caribbean Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Dr Barbara Graham, chief executive officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society, James Paul were among those at service of the St Thomas church. (DS)