Being connected to the internet and having access to 21st century creature comforts like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat is something many people can’t live without anymore.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales understands how important it is to be connected in this day and age and has put its money where its mouth is by sponsoring the free WIFI at the Royal Welsh Show 2016.
“The range of services and opportunities which are exclusively available through the internet has grown significantly over the past decade, and access to broadband is now regarded as a necessity by the majority of UK businesses and households, but many of those living in rural areas are still without such essential 21st century essentials,” said FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas.
He added that the FUW is fully supportive of moves which encourage the use of online services where they are available and practical in order to reduce administrative burdens and minimise the risk of errors but that more needs to be done to facilitate these options - and key to this is of course access.
Brian Thomas added that: “The FUW has demonstrated its support for online services in terms of our support for RPW Online and the instrumental role we have played in helping our members submit their SAF applications online from the outset.
“However, with access to broadband still well below the national average in many of our rural areas, and farm businesses representing the highest proportion of those with no broadband access, it is essential that the limitations of online services and communications are recognised, and that rural access to broadband is increased.”
The FUW maintains that, given the rate at which the rules relating to agriculture change, and the penalties associated with breaching those rules, it is essential that such changes are communicated to the industry in an accessible format.
Aside from legislative requirements, farms without broadband are also placed at a significant commercial disadvantage in terms of, for example being unable to receive reports from slaughterhouses, being unable to make full use of farm and business software, not having access to online movement records and animal histories, not having access to online resources relevant to animal health, such as that relating to TB and being unable to access information and guidance relevant to their businesses.
For those who have had to diversify into non agricultural businesses, there are also major commercial disadvantages for farms which do not have broadband access, including being unable to properly market products via the internet, being unable to process orders submitted via the internet and tourism, function and events organisation industries are also at a disadvantage, where customers and clients expect and demand broadband access.
“In addition, those who are letting self-catering cottages are placed at a significant disadvantage, as WIFI availability is now required to successfully market their businesses.
“Children are unable to access broadband for their school and college work and anyone who wishes to work from home or explore diversification enterprises, are finding themselves in unfavourable circumstances.
“A lot of work has been done over the past four years to improve services for broadband access and a lot of money has been invested by Welsh Government to improve the ‘superfast’ service – however that service is still not reaching all farmers and rural businesses across Wales,” said Brian Thomas.
The FUW affirms that access to broadband and decent mobile phone coverage is critical in helping Wales become the rural economic powerhouse it needs to be in a world post Brexit and is looking forward continuing discussions with key players and decision makers throughout the course of the Royal Welsh Show week.