The Irish Framers Association National Poultry Committee Chairman Alo Mohan said that producers are being driven out of business by the failure of retailers to address the escalating production costs on farms.

Speaking from the protest, Alo Mohan warned that poultry producers are under extreme pressure because of an ongoing loss-making situation that is unsustainable. He accused retailers and processors of failing to listen to the concerns of growers.

“Costs have risen at an alarming rate, but the problems for poultry producers are falling on deaf ears. Either retailers take account of this, or we will go out of business.”

Alo Mohan said there is an urgent need for producers to recover a very modest 7c/bird and 1c/egg from the retailers to help meet increased costs and stay in business. This is not an unreasonable ask, considering the massive margins retailers enjoy on their product.

“Retailers, despite requests to take account of the difficult situation on farms have been silent, and what this tells us is that they find farmers simply an inconvenience in their drive for profits.”

The IFA National Poultry Chairman said: “The processors and retailers are blaming each other for the failure to pass back a price increase to producers. This has to stop now, and action must be taken by the retailers to secure the viability of a poultry sector that supports thousands of jobs in the country.

Mr Mohan said the level of crisis which exists has not been addressed to date, and the availability of locally-produced chicken and eggs, delivered to the highest standards, cannot be guaranteed unless a greater share of the final price is returned to producers.