Konya Şeker has started depositing a record-breaking cash payment of 5 billion 918 million TL to its sugar beet producer partners during the 2023-2024 campaign period. Along with the previously paid in-kind and cash advances to farmers, the total amount reached an enormous figure of 8 billion 190 million TL.
After the conclusion of the 2023-2024 campaign period, Konya Şeker has started to pay sugar beet payments as of Thursday, February 15.
Ramazan Erkoyuncu, the General President of PANKOBİRLİK and the Chairman of the Konya Sugar Beet Growers Cooperative, stated that Konya Şeker broke a record with the purchase of 3 million 808 thousand 539 tons of sugar beets during the 2023-2024 campaign period, emphasizing their support for farmers in all aspects.
With the end of the 2023-2024 campaign period, Konya Şeker will have paid a total of 8 billion 190 million 223 thousand TL to farmers. The total amount of in-kind and cash advances paid so far has been 2 billion 272 million 642 thousand TL. The remaining cash payment of 5 billion 918 million 581 thousand TL has started to be deposited into the farmers' accounts today.
President Erkoyuncu stated that they paid a high price for C and D sugar, saying, 'As Konya Şeker, we paid a higher price for C and D sugar compared to Turkish Sugar and other factories. While the price at Turkish Sugar was 1,050 TL, we set it at 1,500 TL. We protected and supported the farmers in this matter. As a farmer organization, we did not do this for populist politics. It was the right of the farmer, and we gave it to them. We try to pay our farmers' advances, fertilizers, diesel support, and sugar beet payments on time.'
"Turkish Sugar announced an unprecedented discount rate"
President Erkoyuncu also added that Turkish Sugar announced an unprecedented discount rate, saying, 'This year, Turkish Sugar set the sugar price at 27 TL on a campaign basis. However, Turkish Sugar also applied an unprecedented discount rate of 20 percent. Therefore, the wholesale sugar sales price was announced as 21.5 TL. We had to comply with this figure. We sold our sugar for 21.5 TL.'
President Erkoyuncu emphasized the need for efficient use of the Seed and Plant Health Clinic established within the Food and Agriculture University, stating, 'I announce to our farmers from here. Due to climate conditions, any negative aspects of the products should be closely monitored. If all the negative aspects are reported to the Seed and Plant Health Clinic, we can intervene very quickly. Our farmers should monitor the products closely and be on alert.'