FARMERS awaiting receipt of their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) subsidy say the Welsh Government’s insistence that the “vast majority’’ will be paid in the coming weeks is of little comfort as their bills mount.

Thirty per cent of Welsh farmers have yet to receive their BPS and the majority have not been paid their full entitlement.

According to one agent who acts on behalf of 450 farmers, it is the biggest claims that are stalling.

“Virtually all the small claimants we act for, those who are claiming under £9,000, have been paid but none of the bigger claimants,’’ said John Crimes, of CARA Wales.

Mr Crimes described the implications for the farming sector as “horrific’’ with farmers unable to pay their suppliers and contractors.

“It’s like dropping a stone into a pond, the ripple effect extends a long way.

“Fortunately the banks are being quite understanding and offering loans to the value of the BPS until it comes in or increasing overdrafts but farmers have to request this.’’

One farmer awaiting payment is sheep and beef producer Richard Isaac. Last year he received his subsidy on the first day of the payment window.

“We don’t know when we will get our money, it is getting to the point where it is very serious,’’ said Mr Isaac, of Mynachdy Farm near Pontypridd.

“Fortunately I have a very sympathetic bank manager but every week he asks me if I have heard when the money will be paid.’’

Although Mr Isaac was critical that there was not enough information about why his payment had not been made, Wales’ deputy food and farming minister, Rebecca Evans, has urged farmers to “resist the temptation’’ to phone the Rural Payments Wales Customer Contact Centre chasing payment. This approach, she said, would divert staff from processing claims and delay payments.

“That is not something that anybody - including the farmers involved - would wish to see happen. If we need information from farmers to process their claim we will get in touch swiftly,’’ she said.

But she said Assembly Members who were aware of constituents that were genuinely suffering significant financial hardship should bring these cases to her attention.

The minister admitted that more complex cases would take longer to pay.

“Farmers who have not been paid by the end of January will be written to in order to update them on progress, and advise them when they are likely to receive payment,’’ said Mrs Evans.

The final instalments of the part-payments - 20% - will be made in April in line with the government’s published target.