The Agricultural Price indices for March 2013, released today by the Central Statistics Office, show a rise in the price paid to farmers for potatoes, cereals, and pigs.

Potatoes, at 209%, was the greatest rise with cereals at 30% and pigs at 14%.

Deputy President of the Irish Farmers Assoication, Eddie Downey, says this trend needs to continue to ensure the sector's survival.

The overall figure, the total price paid for all produce combined, was up 8% on March 2012 and up 2% from last month.

However, farmers were paying more to run their farms, with a similar 8% increase in the index for last year.

Electricity was up 9% from last year, and feeding stuffs for most animals up roughly a fifth due to the recent fodder price.

Eddie Downey says that supplies of fodder from abroad are beginning to slow.

The index, released monthly, has shown a steady rise in both input and output prices over the past two years.

You can have a look at the results at CSO.ie.