About 80 farmers are taking part in the Farmers for Action protest on Friday over what they say are low prices and increasing red tape.

Protests are also under way at Westminster, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly.

But the main farming unions have not supported the strike call.

We would hope to achieve a 24-hour stoppage whereby no produce would leave any farms

William Taylor

A hamper of farm produce, including lamb, potatoes and other vegetables, was handed to Stormont Agriculture Committee member George Savage, with the message that they may not be able to produce the same goods this time next year.

In his address to the farmers, Mr Savage called for a better deal for farmers and fairer prices.

The protest organisers said they accepted the withholding of produce for 24 hours represented only a token protest.

But William Taylor of Farmers For Action, said it was intended to highlight their frustration over low produce prices.

"We would hope to achieve a 24-hour stoppage whereby no produce would leave any farms in the UK," he said.

"This will send a powerful message to government and supermarkets that things have to change and change immediately."

National organiser David Handley said the protests marked the start of a "more militant" campaign.

"When we watch our colleagues in France and other European countries - if they want something they go out and take to the streets and they stay there until they get it," he said.

The Northern Ireland farming industry is split over the strike call.

The Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association has been supportive and is planning its own rally at Stormont next month.

But the biggest lobby group, the Ulster Farmers' Union, is against the tactic.

It says there is a danger of alienating the public, which could result in local produce being replaced on shelves by imported food.