By Abi Kay
NEW research carried out by the NFU has found a lack of action to improve rural connectivity is holding UK food production back.
According to the Digital Technology Survey, only 44 per cent of farmers have phone signal sufficient for the needs of their business, and just 38 per cent had adequate broadband speeds.
Respondents to the survey were clear that rural areas should have access to the same digital service and infrastructure as urban areas, including better speed, coverage and reliability.
NFU vice-president David Exwood said: This survey makes for very disappointing reading. It shows that very little progress has been made over the past year to increase levels of broadbandand mobile access in rural areas, despite Government promises to level up the country. This lack of digital connectivity puts a huge drain on time and efficiency as we are effectively working with one arm tied behind our backs.
Farming, like every other business, needs access to reliablebroadband and mobile connections. They are vital to running modern day food and farming business, impacting everything from accessing data and utilising technology to communicating with suppliers and keeping workers safe on-farm.
The NFUs survey results were released as more than 30 MPs and peers wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to put together a white paper on the rural economy.
The call followed the publication of a major report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rural Business and Rural Powerhouse, which set out 27 clear measures to unlock the economic potential of the countryside.
*There were 846 respondents to the NFU survey.
