The Irish Farmers' Association has begun a campaign to highlight the difficulties facing farmers on 17 islands off the south and west coasts.
The group called for increased financing from the Government for 600 farmers trying live without exchequer or European Union funds.
Financial concessions and cash handouts were vital to prevent agriculture on the islands from dying out, IFA’s deputy president Mr Ruairí Deasy said.
He said a survey found most of the farmers did not qualify for grants because of the small and fragmented nature of their land and extra transport costs.
The IFA called for the farmers to be compensated by a doubling of existing payments and investment of about £1.5 million in development projects.
"Island farmers are trying to eke out a living against huge odds in conditions that are much more difficult and challenging than on the mainland," Mr Deasy said.
"Our blueprint could help revitalise farming on the islands. But failure to act now will inevitably lead to serious decline".