The new Irish Farmers' Association president, John Bryan, has criticised the major supermarkets here for engaging in a vicious war for market share, which decimated the income of farmers.
Mr Bryan said politicians in Ireland and the EU must rebalance the food marketing chain to ensure that farmers get a viable income.
Mr Bryan, a former garda and livestock farmer from Inistioge, Co Kilkenny, took over the IFA presidency from Padraig Walshe at the association's Annual General Meeting in Dublin today.
The new leader said the last year had been horrendous for farmers, with income falling by 30%.
Farming, he said, is being 'hammered' in the recession, but there are reasons for optimism with a growing global demand for food.
However, Mr Bryan strongly criticised the discounting of Irish food, which he said is being done at the expense of farmers while the supermarkets boost their corporate profits.
Mr Bryan said this is 'daylight robbery' and this corporate greed and contempt for farmers must be addressed by new laws if necessary.
