Kazakh MPs propose to consider alternative ways of sugar production to increase domestic production, including Corn.
“Only 10% of the sugar consumed in Kazakhstan is made from domestic raw materials, the import of Sugar increases and its production in the country decreases. Compared to 2020, the price of sugar has doubled. This also affects the price of other goods,” MP Ali Bektaev said at a Senate session.
It is stated that the Republic of Kazakhstan in recent years 316 thousand tons Sugar imported from Russia - that's 64% of the total sugar imports into the country. Meanwhile, Russian farmers are increasing the production of sugar beet and Sugar, the Russian Federation fully supplies itself with these products.
In Kazakhstan there is a completely different situation - sugar factories mainly use tropical juices imported from Brazil.
In 2022, a comprehensive plan for the development of the sugar industry was approved in Kazakhstan. It was planned to increase the sowing of sugar beet to 38.000 hectares. According to this plan, sugar production should increase 7 times to 254.000 tons. For this purpose, 495 billion tenge is required.
“Unfortunately, the plan does not envisage sugar production from alternative products, only the cultivation of sugar beet. We don't have time, we only tend to sugar beets for 15 years. The geopolitical situation in the world requires a quick solution to this problem. Why not consider the technology, starch juice from Wheat, potatoes, corn to produce grain? These cultures have been produced in Kazakhstan for decades. Glucose-fructose syrup made on the basis of corn starch can be used instead of sugar in beverage factories, confectionery factories and in the kitchen," said A. Bektaev.
The sugar replacement factor in the juice is 1,2, that is, instead of 1,2 tons of sugar, 1 ton of glucose-fructose juice can be used, with the juice yield from corn kernels being 60-65%, and from beets is only 15-20%.
That is, half of the 650 thousand tons of sugar consumed in the country can be obtained from corn for grain. To do this, it is enough to increase the current acreage of corn by 25-30%.
“According to the researches of scientists, the cost of 1 hectare of corn is 400 thousand tenge, for sugar beet - 850 thousand tenge. At the same time, the yield in our country is 7-10 quintals/hectare higher than in the Russian Federation. In addition, corn is a zero-waste crop and is used in various walks of life. In Kazakhstan it is possible to create a production cluster for a full cycle,” said the senator.
The deputy suggested revising the integrated sugar industry development plan for 2022-2026 and considering the possibility of deep processing of starchy crops.
Source: APKinform (Ukraine)