Consumers will face higher potato prices in the coming months as shortages push up prices.
The cost of potatoes in supermarkets is already up 17.3% compared to a year ago, but such costs are expected to rise further due to the impact of bad weather on last year's harvest and on this year's planting season.
Figures published by the CSO show that amid the shortages farmers were paid 74% more for potatoes in March of this year compared to what they were paid a year previously.
National Potato Chairman with the IFA Sean Ryan said the increase reflects the low base of prices last year, and a scarcity of potatoes that will continue for the rest of this year.
"Scarcity of supply is reflected in the prices quoted... which have come off the back of unsustainable prices for the last 10 years," Mr Ryan said.
"Current prices need to be sustained for a viable potato industry," he added.
Mr Ryan also pointed out that input costs for potatoes that are currently on the shelf were at an all-time high when those potatoes were planted and while there are high prices been offered for potatoes now, very few growers have supplies for sale.
"Most growers are not benefitting from price increases as a large amount of potatoes were sold straight from fields at harvest time, when prices were lower," he said.
According to the CSO, overall prices paid to farmers for their output were down 3.5% in the 12 months to March this year.
However, the drop masks some contrasting figures.
Cereal prices were down 31%, milk prices were down 5% and prices for pigs fell 7.5%.
Potatoes, vegetable and sheep prices rose.
The price growers received for vegetables was up 13% while sheep prices were up 30% compared to the previous year with strong demand experienced around the religious festivals of Easter and Eid.
The past year has also seen a steep drop in the cost of inputs in the agriculture sector, according to the CSO.
Overall prices, which are the cost that farmers incur in order to produce their goods, fell by 15.3% in the year to March.
However, electricity prices in the period were down 22%, fertiliser prices down 40% and animal feed down nearly 17%.
