TZOB President Bayraktar: “We rank 5th in the world and 4th in Europe in sugar beet production.”

The President of the Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers (TZOB), Şemsi Bayraktar, who came to Aksaray to participate in sugar beet harvesting, stated that Turkey holds an important place in sugar beet production, saying, “Our country has a significant position among the countries producing sugar from beets, with a 6.6% share in world beet sugar production. It ranks 5th in the world and 4th in Europe.”

TZOB President Şemsi Bayraktar participated in sugar beet harvesting in Aksaray. Here, he met with producers and received information about the works, providing insights on beet production. Bayraktar emphasized that Turkey is at a significant point in beet production nationwide, stating, “Beet and sugar production is a production branch that has strategic importance in social and economic life worldwide due to its high added value, high employment potential, role in the development of other agricultural products and livestock, and being the most efficient raw material for bioethanol. Due to geographical structures around the world, EU countries, Russia, Ukraine, and our country produce sugar from beets; countries like the United States, Japan, and China produce sugar from both beets and cane; and many countries, including Brazil, India, Mexico, Thailand, and Australia, produce sugar from cane. Our country holds an important position among the countries producing sugar from beets, with a 6.6% share in world beet sugar production. It ranks 5th in the world and 4th in Europe. It is also 12th among the countries producing sugar from cane and beet worldwide. Sugar beet farming is carried out every year according to the principles of the ‘Sugar Beet Production Contract’ made with producers in all regions except the Eastern Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean coast, and the Southeastern Anatolia Region. It is one of the first examples of contracted production and has enabled the integration of agriculture with industry. In our country, sugar beet production is programmed by companies based on sugar quotas determined each year. The quota application in sugar production and thus beet production ensures the optimal and efficient use of national resources. 95% of our country’s annual sugar needs are met by beet sugar, while 5% is met by starch-based sugar. According to the law numbered 7103, starting from the 2019/2020 marketing year, the starch-based sugar quota is determined at 2.5% of the total A quota of the country by presidential decision each year.”

“Sugar beet is produced in 58 provinces in Turkey”

President Bayraktar stated, “Sugar beet is produced in 58 provinces of our country. The leading provinces in production are Konya, Yozgat, Afyonkarahisar, Kayseri, Eskişehir, and Aksaray. Last season, 1 million 178 thousand 458 tons of sugar beet were produced in Aksaray. With this production figure, Aksaray ranks 6th, taking a 4.7% share of the national production. We allocate 3.6 million decares of our agricultural land for sugar beet production. Although it varies by year, an average of 19.5 million tons of sugar beet has been produced over the last 10 years. In 2023, 25 million 250 thousand tons of sugar beet were produced on 3.6 million decares. In 2023, with a record production, our sugar beet production surpassed 25 million for the first time. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute’s 2nd Estimate of Plant Production, production is expected to decrease by 8.9% to 23 million tons in 2024.”

“The number of farmers producing sugar beet is decreasing”

President Bayraktar expressed that the number of farmers producing sugar beet has significantly decreased over the years, stating, “In the last 10 years, the number of beet farmers has decreased by 19.8%, dropping to 99,714. However, our sugar consumption is increasing. In 2021, our per capita sugar consumption was 30.7 kilograms, while it rose to 33.6 kilograms in 2022. With a 9.4% increase in per capita consumption in one year, our sufficiency rate in sugar has decreased. In 2022, our sugar sufficiency rate was realized at 91.1. We have a dynamic and rapidly growing population of over 85 million. There are more than 5 million refugees, asylum seekers, and foreigners living in our country. Annually, 55 million tourists visit our country. All these factors significantly increase sugar demand. This demand needs to be met. To meet this demand, sugar beet production must continue,” he said.

“Sugar is not a product to be dependent on imports; it is a strategic product”

Emphasizing that the sugar sector is a whole with sugar beet producers and sugar factories, President Bayraktar stated, “Factories should be strengthened in terms of technology, should work efficiently, employment should be increased, and necessary investments should be made. The sugar sector has a farmer, factory worker, and consumer component. The added value it creates and its public benefit aspect cannot be overlooked. Considering the balance of sugar production and consumption against the increasing population, both beet and sugar production need to be increased. The announced sugar beet prices must be at a level that ensures the producer earns a sufficient income and increases production motivation, which is extremely important. It is essential to continue production in all branches of agricultural production. The sugar beet purchase prices announced by Turkish Sugar have increased over the years. In 2023, the purchase price of sugar beets, including the quota completion bonus, was 1,855 lira per ton, which increased by 28% to 2,375 lira in 2024. Although the announced price has increased, it is still insufficient. Increases in agricultural inputs and the burden of debts that are difficult to pay make production increasingly challenging. Prices need to be announced before the harvest starts. Although the sugar purchase campaign began on September 4 this year, the price announcement came on September 24. The delay in price announcements worries our producers. In many products, price announcements were made at the cost level. Prices must be announced at levels that will allow producers to make a living and continue their production, considering the rising input prices and production costs before the harvest. Our rural areas are aging. The average age has risen to 58, and we cannot keep our youth in rural areas. We want fairness to be ensured in the number of premium days that our farmers pay. Our farmers expect the number of premium days to be reduced to 7,200 days like other insured persons. Our youth demand that their premiums be paid by the state. I wish for our sugar beet harvest today to be beneficial for all our producers and hope for a fruitful season where they will receive the rewards of their labor.”

After the statement, Bayraktar harvested beets and chatted with producers.