Following much criticism, the IT system used to process EU subsidy payments for farmers has been abandoned following 'performance problems'.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA)'s Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) system will be re-launched next week (w/c 23 March) with farmers asked to submit BPS claims on paper forms, replacing the problematic digital mapping tool which had been used to measure farmland boundaries.
Mark Grimshaw, RPA chief executive, said the decision had been taken 'having listened intently' to farmers.
Among the critics of the online system was NFU horticulture and potatoes board chairman, Guy Poskitt, who, speaking a few days before this latest development, said: 'Following half a day trying to do a bit of work on my BPS application, my concerns are massive - the whole system is hopeless, it just does not work.
'I urge any members to get started because the system is tediously slow. Please don't rely on your agent to help you out, they simply will not have time.'
The RPA said it has made the decision to 'blend' new and existing forms and processes 'to ensure that everyone who wants to make a claim this year can do so'.
Farmers and their agents will be able to receive assistance at 50 digital support centres in England, which will now act as drop-in centres.
The BPS claim submission deadline has also been extended to 15 June, to help the RPA make payments to farmers from December 2015.
Grimshaw added that farmers still need to register using the online rural payments service to begin the process of making their claim, something which 80 per cent of farmers have managed to do so far, he said.
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