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The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has warned that the upcoming potato season is in peril, with many potato farmers facing closure due to a broken food chain. The IFA has called for packers and retailers to increase returns to their farmer suppliers, as commercial potato farming is not viable this year with rising land rental, fertiliser, fuel, and storage costs.

Here are some key headings related to the issue:

Potato farming in crisis: the broken food chain Potato season in jeopardy: farmers struggling to make ends meet Potato farmers demand fair prices: viability of farms at risk

The IFA will hold a national meeting of potato growers next week in Dublin to discuss the current state of the sector and to explore possible solutions to the challenges facing potato farmers.

In addition, the delay in the opening of the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector is also causing concern, with the IFA calling for urgent action to open the scheme immediately. The Irish horticulture sector is currently facing market challenges, input costs, and longstanding issues such as labour and land availability.

The potato farming crisis is just one example of the challenges facing the Irish agricultural sector. With rising costs, market challenges, and climate change, farmers across the country are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. It is crucial for the government, retailers, and consumers to work together to support the sector and ensure its viability for generations to come.

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Viktor Kovalev CEO
POTATOES NEWS Viktor Kovalev is the founder of Potatoes.News and the creator of the International Potato Tour (IPT) — a global multimedia project that connects potato farmers, processors, researchers, and agribusiness companies across more than 20 countries. Viktor writes about potato production, processing technologies, storage, seed breeding, export markets, innovations, and sustainable agriculture. His work combines journalism, field research, and video storytelling, giving readers and viewers a unique perspective on the global potato industry. Areas of expertise: Global potato market trends Seed potato production and certification Potato processing (chips, flakes, fries, starch) Smart farming and agri-technologies Storage, logistics, and export Interviews and field reports from leading producers