The Sugar Beet Processing Campaign is About to Begin
PRESS RELEASE
The Sugar Beet Processing Campaign is About to Begin
SHUNOKO: WE EXPECT ABOVE-AVERAGE RESULTS
Belgrade, 1 September 2020 – The Company Sunoko is starting a sugar beet processing campaign at the Vrbas Production Center, and it is expected that about 250,000 tons of sugar will be produced during the campaign. In this year’s campaign, all three Sunoko’s Sugar Factories – in Vrbas, Pećinci and Kovačica, will work in optimal capacity, and according to the Company, better than a good season is expected despite all the challenges, especially during sowing and the first part of vegetation.
„This year, despite the circumstances during March and April, between 36,000 and 37,000 ha of sugar beet have been sown, and during the beet processing campaign itself, we expect above-average results. With good organization and education conducted by the team of our Raw Materials Sector under the auspices of the Sunoko Research and Development Center, which is being established, we managed to improve the protection against leaf disease together with our producers, which was far more effective this year than in previous years “, Slobodan Košutić, Director of the Company Sunoko said.
Speaking about the conditions of contracting the production of sugar beet, he pointed out that for 2021 they are more favorable than the contract for 2020, despite the challenges in the sugar market: “We want to provide full support to farmers to opt for this production as soon as possible and start all activities related to the successful production of sugar beet on time. With the offered conditions, we stimulate the best producers to plan production on time and start soil analysis, fertilization and basic land cultivation, because only in that way the expected yields will be higher. The basic price of 34 euros per ton of payable beet with a bonus for producers who achieve above-average digestion, remain unchanged compared to the contract from 2020. The addition compared to the previous contract is a bonus of half the value of the seed taken to establish the contracted production, “ Košutić added.
In addition to financial conditions, the Company Sunoko provides producers with the highest quality raw materials at very favorable conditions on the market and the possibility of advance financing of production. Also, assistance in taking out sugar beet is provided for small producers.
As pointed out by the Company, in the European and world market, competition is possible only with an increase in yield, so it is very important to influence its growth. In the long run, in this way, the competitiveness of this line of agricultural production can be ensured.
In addition, the Company Sunoko is actively working on the digitalization of the process, and this year in the Production Center Kovačica it is testing the application E-dispatch, which will enable the complete digitization of documentation in the process of supplying sugar beet. In this way, the largest sugar producer in Serbia will be ready for the period in which, as announced by the State, the legislation will enable the full use of electronic documents.
The Company Sunoko, a member of the MK Group, with its three production centers is the most efficient sugar producer in Southeast Europe with an annual export of 150,000 tons. Export markets are for the most part countries in the region, given the Company’s goal of gaining a leading position in the Balkans.
