Nearly 150 farm businesses are still to receive their 2017 payments under the CAP Basic Payment Scheme in the South of Scotland region.
The figures revealed in an answer to a parliamentary question, showed that 149 farm businesses are still due their BPS payments, which accounts for nearly a third of the delayed payment total across Scotland (492 in total).
Despite the Scottish Government hitting the target of 95% of payments by the 30 June deadline, millions of pounds are still missing from the rural economy.
Commenting on the figures, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, Rachael Hamilton said:
“It is simply unacceptable that farmers are having to wait for payments well after the payment deadline”
“Years after the CAP IT fiasco, the impact is still being felt. Many farmers across Scotland face substantial financial losses, and recent extreme weather patterns have exacerbated the problem”
"Farmers have been in contact with me about delayed payments, so I have heard first hand the problems they are facing"
“Mr Ewing said that the IT system that caused the mayhem in the first place, is fully operational; this is simply not the case”
“The farming sector is experiencing very difficult economic times as we all know, and farmers deserve better than this”