President Erkoyuncu opened his election office.

PANKOBİRLİK President and Chairman of the Board of Konya Sugar Beet Growers’ Cooperative, Ramazan Erkoyuncu, has started working for the Konya Sugar Beet Growers’ Cooperative Board Presidency elections, which will be held together with the 72nd Financial General Assembly on July 27, 2024.
President Erkoyuncu’s election campaign office opening received intense interest from farmers, who expressed their support for President Erkoyuncu in the new term. President Erkoyuncu, stating that they will take an active role in every effort that prioritizes the welfare of farmers in the new term, said, ‘Being by the side of our farmers and finding solutions to their problems is our most important duty. Since taking office, we have acted with this awareness and made efforts to provide all kinds of support to our farmers without pursuing any personal interests, always prioritizing the interests of our institution and farmers. The financial situation of our farmers, who play a major role in the development of Konya agriculture, has always been our priority. In the new term, hopefully, we will ensure that our region’s agriculture reaches the highest levels with the same awareness.’

‘This is not a snap election’
Responding to early election speculations, President Erkoyuncu said, ‘As it is known, the election was supposed to be held next year. However, according to the Election General Assembly calendars based on the past, there have been 8 general assemblies, except for the last two general assemblies, 6 of them have been held within 3 years. One of them even took place within 2 years. This information is available in the calendar. Therefore, farmers and prospective candidates started their activities as if the election would be held in the 3rd year. For this reason, we also made an early election decision. This is not a snap early election, and there is nothing that we cannot answer.’ President Erkoyuncu, stating that as of March 2029, the institution will have no debts left, conveyed that he managed the process transparently.

‘Put your hand on your conscience when you vote’
President Erkoyuncu, who stated that he fulfilled all the promises he made before going to the 2021 elections to the letter, said, ‘I believe that I have completed these 3 years with an open forehead, without embarrassing you in any way. I believe that I have fulfilled the promises I made that day to the letter. The process may not have gone exactly as we wanted for one reason or another, but I say with reliance on justice and honesty, I did not embarrass you. I am asking for your proxy again for a 4-year term. I ask you to put your hand on your conscience, free from all sentimentality, and act by consulting your mind and conscience. May Allah grant that team to this institution, this nation, these farmers, and this country, whoever is good for them.’ He stated that he will respond to the allegations put forward one by one, emphasizing that there is nothing he cannot be accountable for. President Erkoyuncu said, ‘Today, Soma is our biggest problem. There is some improvement there, but it will not be as we want. There will be an intensive effort for that. In 15 days, we will conduct election campaigns on one hand, of course, but on the other hand, we will not neglect to make contacts for our institution in Ankara. I have never hidden anything from you, I have been transparent. As of last year, the food group had a debt of 9 billion 350 million. With intense work and a permanent fixed interest of 15%, we restructured it. As of the end of March 2029, whoever comes, there will not be a single penny of debt here. We said to our farmers, ‘Let everyone buy the seed they want from wherever they want.’ There was a mandatory Grade C, we lifted it. There was no Grade C husk, we fulfilled the promise there and the farmer got what he deserved. There was no polar in Grade C. Everyone was calculated based on a fixed 16 polar. 20 polar got 20, 14 polar got 14. We never delayed our farmers’ advances for a single day. Even though we went through tough times, we always prioritized our farmers.’ After the speech, the opening of the election office was held with intense participation, and President Erkoyuncu said, ‘May God be pleased with all of you. I have never embarrassed you, and I will not. The day I feel this, I will take my jacket and leave.’