Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region to expand sugar beet processing capacities
This year nearly 11,200 hectares of sugar beet were cultivated in Zhambyl region with an average yield of 650 centners per hectare. Over the past five years sugar beet yield did not surpass 350 centners per hectare, Zhambyl region governor Yerbol Karashukeyev told a press conference at the central communications service.
The governor said this year favorable weather contributed to high yield. 84% of cultivated lands or 600,000 tons of sugar beet have been harvested so far. To avoid long queues to the Merke sugar mills in Zambyl region recorded this year, some 30,000 tons of sugar beet was delivered to the Aksu sugar mills and refiner plant.
He also said the issue of state backing is being worked over stressing that 3.4 billion tenge of subsidies were allocated from the regional budget with another 5 billion tenge expected from the republican budget. The Taraz sugar mills are being updated. He added the construction of another sugar refinery plant will help gradually tackle the issue.
As earlier reported, Zhambyl farmers collected sugar beet three times more than usual this year.
Kazakhstan was expected to harvest record-high crops of sugar beets.