A SMALL-business group has praised a government decision it says will help farmers.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) had pressed Whitehall chiefs to continue to accept paper submissions from farmers for their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) claims.
Shortly after this the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) announced it would do just that.
"The increasing reliance on online filing is proving extremely difficult for farmers," said Richard Asghar-Sandys, chairman for FSB Herefordshire.
"Herefordshire has dreadful broadband in some areas, especially the more isolated areas.
"It’s vital that Government understands that the infrastructure must be in place if farmers, and others who live and work in rural areas, are going to be able to engage fully with new technology.”
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