The price of potatoes soared by 187 per cent in the year to the end of January, according to data from the Central Statistics Office.

The Agricultural Output Price Index shows the cost of other crops such as cereals (+30.2 per cent) and vegetables (+2.4 per cent) also increased in the year long period.

In relation to livestock, the index shows that the price of pigs went up by 16.9 per cent and that cattle prices were largely static.

Calf (-30.5 per cent), sheep (- 16.2 per cent) and poultry (-6.5 per cent) values all declined sharply.

The price of feeding stuffs, seeds and energy increased by 21.1 per cent, 8.7 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively in the year long period, the CSO said.

On an annual basis, the output index increased by 4 per cent overall while the cost of inputs was up by 8.6 per cent.