The Irish Farmers' Association has warned that many potato farmers "will be forced out of business" unless packers and retailers increase returns to their farmer suppliers. IFA president Tim Cullinan said that commercial potato farming is "simply not viable" this year with land rental, fertiliser, fuel and storage costs.
Chair of the national potato committee Sean Ryan said that the upcoming potato season is "hanging in the balance because of a broken food chain. The IFA has pointed this out for the past 18 months, but we are at breaking point. Growers simply cannot afford to put crops in the ground this year if changes are not made."
Ryan added: "Shipments of potatoes have been exported to Portugal, with good demand for more Irish potatoes reported. It is a sad state of affairs when growers are forced to export potatoes because the cost of storage is unviable."
"The pricing model is broken. Growers must be paid for the huge energy cost of storing potatoes from the time of harvest to ensure a continuous supply throughout the year. Potato farmers need the market to return a fair price that makes their farms viable," he concluded.
Source: irishexaminer.com