This year, the only sugar factory in the whole Sumy region, which is located in Nikolaevka, Belopolsky District, will not function, as farmers do not want to grow sugar beets.

This was told by the director of the Department of agro-industrial development of the regional state administration, Alexander Maslak. He has not paid off his debts so far.

Last year's wage arrears to employees was repaid by the plant only last week. It has not yet paid for raw materials that were grown by farmers specifically for the needs of the enterprise, the official said.

According to Alexander Maslak, in 2018 the sugar factory in Nkolaevka processed 65.5 thousand tons of sugar beets and received 11 thousand tons of sugar, while in 2017 200 thousand tons of raw materials were put into processing and 23 were received. 5 thousand tons of product.

The enterprise mainly worked to cover the region’s demand for sugar, which is about 30 thousand. This year they will not make sugar in the region, therefore they will start supplying it from other regions of the country.

Last year, 10 agricultural companies were engaged in the cultivation of sugar beets in the region, while this year their number decreased to 3. Sowings of sugar beets this year decreased by 4 times, summed up Alexander Maslak.