The Irish Farmers' Association is urging consumers to support local services and Irish produce as a way of easing the current difficult economic situation.
The association welcomed the support of economist Jim Power who warned that thousands of jobs are dependent on people buying local produce, shopping and socialising locally.
Mr Power said it is important people realise the impact of spending money locally has in safeguarding the jobs of their families, friends and neighbours.
A statement from the IFA quotes Mr Power saying that the trend of people going to Northern Ireland to do their shopping is the ultimate act of patriotic sabotage.
Meanwhile, a group representing the retail sector in Ireland has expressed concern about the British government's move to reduce its VAT rate.
Chancellor Alastair Darling announced a 13-month cut in the rate from 17.5% to 15% from 1 December as part of a £20bn package to boost the British economy.
But Retail Ireland, part of employers' group IBEC, said the move would make Ireland less competitive and 'compound the problem of people crossing the border to shop'.
Director of Retail Ireland Torlach Denihan said the consequences for border towns would be very serious and urged the Government to consider lowering the VAT rate.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said despite the VAT changes across the border the focus of the retail shopping sector here would have to remain on providing good value for money.
Speaking in Co Offaly this afternoon, Mr Cowen said that rate of sterling compared to the euro was a bigger issue than VAT at the moment for the retail sector but that Ireland was a small economy without as much room for manoeuvre as larger economies.
‘People will have to see that there is much better value in the Republic of Ireland’ Mr Cowen said.
