Sugar production in the 2022-2023 marketing year ended in February at 33 sugar factories in Turkey.
It turned out that the Department of Sugar has underhanded some private sugar factories by risking the loss of public sugar factories.
Ilgın Sugar Factory, which is one of the most productive public sugar factories in Turkey, could not complete its sugar quota even though it is located in the region where beet is planted most intensively.
The fact that the Alpullu Sugar Factory, operated by "Binbir Gıda", which does not have sufficient beet production in the hinterland of the factory, produced sugar above its quota of 10 thousand tons, documented the great success experienced in sugar.
The amount of sugar produced by "Binbir Gıda", along with the documents, revealed how the practice of alternation in sugar beet was shelved.
Although the sugar quota for the 2022/2023 marketing year of Alpullu Sugar Factory, which was privatized in 2018 and purchased by Binbir Gıda, was 25 thousand tons, it produced 35 thousand tons of sugar, exactly 10 thousand tons above the quota.
Although sugar beet cultivation is very low in the hinterland of the factory, Binbir Gıda's sugar quota exceeds 178,500 tons of beet, and produces 35 thousand tons of sugar by processing 250 thousand tons of beet,
It reveals how the practice of alternation in sugar beet was sabotaged, and how private sugar factories were favored.
Although "Binbir Gıda" did not produce enough beet in the hinterland of Alpullu Sugar Factory, it was documented that the beet in question was moved from other regions to the factory area in an uncontrolled manner.
This situation reveals the extent of the uncontrolled planting in sugar beet production, where Turkey has implemented the contracted production model most successfully.
ALTHOUGH BEING IN BEET REGION, THE PUBLIC SUGAR FACTORY FAILS TO COMPLETE ITS QUOTA
Planting without alternation in sugar beet paves the way for soil poisoning, and causes public sugar factories to suffer losses by not producing as much as their quota.
For example, Ilgın Sugar Factory, which is one of the few sugar factories in Turkey in terms of efficiency and located in Konya, where beet cultivation is the most intense, could not complete its sugar quota this year.
Although it has a sugar production capacity of 135 thousand to 140 thousand tons, its production remained at 110 thousand tons this year.
Authorities point to the uncontrolled transport of beet from the region to other factories as the main reason why Ilgın Sugar Factory could not produce as much sugar as its quota, even though there was a decrease in beet cultivation in the region compared to previous years.
C SUGAR CAN BE SOLD AS A SUGAR BECAUSE NO SANCTION IS IMPLEMENTED
In fact, sugar production above the quota is not a preferred situation for factories as it is sold at a lower price under C sugar.
However, the lack of control in the production and marketing of sugar provides a great convenience to companies in this regard.
Due to the lack of control in the sugar sector, companies can easily obtain a large profit by selling C sugar to the market within the scope of A sugar.
HOW DID "BINBIR" FOOD COMPANY SIGN A CONTRACT WITH WHICH FARMERS?
It is not known with which farmers and under what kind of contract Binbir Gıda procured 250 thousand tons of sugar beet processed in the 2022/2023 marketing year.
It is also noteworthy that the Sugar Department hides the whole process of sugar production from the public, by not sharing any information about the contracts made with farmers and the production amounts of private and cooperative factories.
In this context, the Sugar Department has to answer the following questions to the public.
THE PUBLIC WAITING ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS
What is the amount of contracts "Binbir Gıda" signed with farmers for beet cultivation in the 2022/2023 marketing year?
While 178 thousand 500 tons of sugar beet should be processed against 25 thousand tons of sugar quota, 71 thousand 500 tons of sugar beet, which is processed above the quota, was procured from which regions and with what permission?
Under which conditions are beet purchases allowed outside the factory site?
Is there any criminal sanction against irregular beet purchases contrary to the alternation?
At what price was Binbir Gıda's 10 thousand tons of sugar produced above the quota sold to the market?
Is there an audit to ensure that the alternation is observed in beet production?
Is there a sanction in case of non-compliance with the alternation?