Poultry farmers protest over low prices paid for chicken and eggs

Poultry farmers gathered outside the premises of some of the country’s leading processors and egg packing stations yesterday to protest at the low prices being paid to producers.

The pickets were organised by the IFA’s national poultry committee to highlight the plight of farmers, and to draw attention to the failure of retailers and processors to pay them a price that covers their costs and gives them a margin to live on.

IFA poultry chairman, Alo Mohan, said: “The situation is so serious on some poultry farms that soon they will have no option but to close their doors indefinitely. This will result in chicken being sourced from countries which do not meet our standards, and jobs and economic activity will be lost.

“Customers of Irish chicken, in the retail and processing sector, must now address this issue urgently for poultry meat and eggs.

“All that is required to secure the future of Irish chicken is 7c per bird and 1c per egg passed from retailer directly back to producer. At present, farmers get as little as 35c per bird and 10c per egg.”

Mr Mohan said most Irish supermarkets carry a large quantity of Bord Bia quality-assured chicken, but producers have not secured any price rise to cover increased production costs.

He said input prices have rocketed, but while processors have received some increases through the chain, the farmer has received nothing.

“Over the last number of years, many poultry factories have closed down and farmers have lost considerable sums of money in the resulting liquidations.

“The closures have forced producers into supply contracts with processors that are completely inequitable in an effort to stay in production. The retailers know how desperate the processors are to maintain market share and use this opportunity to engage in price wars setting Irish poultry suppliers at each other’s throats.”

Processors, although the weaker party, have played their part by acquiescing to the demands of retailers and continually pushing the cost increases back on producers, he said.