IFA chief accuses retailers of failing to pay farmers viable price for food

RETAILERS, processors and marketeers were yesterday accused by the new president of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) John Bryan, of having failed to return a price capable of providing a viable income for family farmers in all the main sectors.

“This is not acceptable. Farmers must be paid a viable price from the market and IFA will do everything in its power to achieve this,” he told the association’s 55th annual general meeting in Dublin.

Mr Bryan, a 51-year-old livestock farmer from Inistioge, Co Kilkenny, said the discounting of Irish food produce is being done at the expense of farmers, while the multiples protect their margins and boost their corporate profits.