Up to 4,000 jobs in the food-processing sector and related industries could be lost due to falling farm prices, according to Mr Pat O'Rourke, president of the ICMSA.
At a demonstration outside Dáil Éireann yesterday, Mr O'Rourke called for an urgent Dáil debate on falling farm incomes, and warned that job losses could happen within weeks if there was no help from the EU and the Government.
"There will have to be massive reorganisation and efficiencies in the processing sector. The numbers directly employed in dairy and beef processing account for a significant proportion of the 46,000 employed in food-processing generally," he said.
The severe downturn in farm income will have major knock-on effects on firms which supply and service the agriculture and food sectors, he told the 350 farmers who had lobbied TDs during the afternoon.
He said the ICMSA was seeking urgent action from the new government to boost milk prices and to secure markets for beef. Farm incomes would be down significantly this year, with the average dairy farmer suffering a 20 per cent cut, he said.
"The Programme for Government not alone seems to have no plan to protect these jobs but seems totally unaware of this almost certain scenario," he said.