The Scottish Government has been accused of "pushing the panic button" after it finally came up with extra money for farmers, according to Conservative candidate for Cunninghame North, Jamie Greene.
Problems with the new IT system means nearly half of the country's farmers are waiting for vital CAP payments, which were supposed to begin arriving in December.
Mr Greene and the Scottish Conservatives have called for an inquiry into the recent delays and IT failures, while Audit Scotland said the Scottish Government could be fined if it didn't fix the system.
Farmers from across Scotland, many from North Ayrshire, attended a protest at Holyrood on Thursday to express their anger at the situation.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon responded to the situation by announcing that Holyrood would use "up to £200 million" of public funds to cover for the failings. Jamie Greene told local press that “The SNP has well and truly pushed the panic button. It's taken far too long for the Scottish Government to act, and that has hurt rural Scotland. It was first warned two years ago that this IT system was not fit for purpose, and that has proved to be the case. As the days go by, farmers in this constituency are borrowing cash and getting short term loans to make ends meet. It’s a total disgrace. This is fairly rural part of the world and I’ve always said that I will be the voice of the forgotten farmer.”
He added “An extra £200 million fund will not address that issue, and that is why we still need a full, independent inquiry into this. Although it has taken too long, we do welcome the support package, which appears to have come as a result of pressure from the Scottish Conservatives as well as the farming community itself."