Organic farmer numbers doubled two years ago when a new scheme was launched with enhanced subsidies for participants.

Farmers in conversion for the first two years are able to claim a €220/ha top-up, while a €170/ha top-up applies afterwards. The scheme is projected to pump €10m into the sector next year.

The move saw participants double to nearly 1,800. While the average farm size is slightly bigger than the national average of 32ha, Ireland still has one of the lowest levels of organic farming in the EU. Just 2pc of the 4.5m hectares of farmland in Ireland is farmed organically, compared to 20pc in Sweden and 14pc in Austria.

With the spike in participants has come a spike in demand for key inputs, not least organic cereals to feed livestock.

Happily for the 156 organic cereal growers in the country, demand from the food sector also continues apace.

Flahavan's, who have made their name manufacturing porridge oats, require an additional 2,000t of organic oats to meet their existing markets.

Currently, they get about 60pc of their 3,000t requirement from Ireland.

"We don't want to do that and we would rather source it all here," John Flahavan said recently, who has led the seven-generation family business to the point where it is now the biggest porridge brand in the UK market.

In an effort to relieve these bottlenecks, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association are calling for the reintroduction of an organic scheme targeted at tillage and dairy farmers only.

"There is more than enough demand for product from nearly every sector, bar sheep. If we could get the marketing channels developed further it would be a big help. We're currently exploring the possibility of EU funding to do a joint project with UK and Denmark, and Bord Bia are conducting trade trips to Nordic countries," said IOFGA's Grace Maher.

Indo Farming