Mr Walshe said “Farmers cannot produce two for the price of one. The reality is that Irish pig producers are losing over €25 per pig and have been making losses on every pig sold for the last eight months.”

Padraig Walshe said, “The Supermarkets have the Irish pig industry in a stranglehold that is choking the livelihoods of producers. The average Irish pig farmer has now built up losses of €100,000 and the industry is facing bankruptcy on an unprecedented scale with accumulated losses of over €42 million at producer level.”

Mr Walshe said, “What we have here is a massive abuse of power by retailers in the food chain that is destroying an important Irish food industry.”

The IFA President also accused retailers of “abusing their dominant position while at the same time producers cannot get a price rise to cover their production costs. Producers receive just 18% of the retail price with retailers and processors pocketing the other 82%”.

Chairman of the IFA Pigs and Pig meat Committee, Mr. Michael Maguire pointed out that pig producers have seen a relentless erosion of their share of the consumer price, and they now receive only 18%, compared to the 35% that they got in the early 1990’s.

“This situation has to stop. Only if pig producers receive a fair share of the retail price can consumers be confident that Quality Assured Irish pig meat will be available in the future.” Farmers and rural families who have been loyal Dunne’s customers feel betrayed by their arrogance and aggression concluded Mr Maguire.

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