Delayed payments to farmers could put local businesses at risk, warned Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie.
Mr Rennie highlighted the potential impact of late Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments on a visit to the St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company, which is based in Anstruther.
This week, The Courier detailed claims the Scottish Government had known about IT problems which could cause crippling delays to CAP payments since early 2014.
However, the Scottish Government denied it had kept farmers in the dark about the “huge delivery challenge” facing the payments.
Mr Rennie said: “The delay in CAP payments will of course hit farmers hardest but there is no part of our rural economy that will not be affected.
“Businesses like St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese who deal with farmers on a daily basis will feel the impact of these delays.
“It is not an exaggeration to suggest that delays in payment will put jobs and businesses at risk.
“Farmers had little time to plan for these payment problems and people in many areas have experienced difficulties trying to access the hardship funds which are available.
“CAP funding plays a vital role in our rural economy. Fife and other parts of the country have been hit hard by the failure of the SNP Government to get to grips with the new payment system.
The St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company diversified its business around eight years ago in response to falling milk prices.
Mr Rennie added: “What this shows is that with the right support, rural businesses like this can go from strength to strength, create jobs and help keep our economy moving.
“If our rural economy is to thrive then we need a quick resolution to these problems and action to ensure that businesses who are looking to diversify get all the help they need.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said in meetings with farming leaders during 2014, ministers had been “very clear” about CAP payment problems.