Sugar beet and sugar production in Ukraine is in a difficult situation

Sugar beet crops are rapidly declining in Ukraine. Among the main reasons for the reduction of crops is the refusal of farmers to grow this crop due to the complexity of cultivation technology (frequent damage by pests and diseases, sensitivity to weather conditions, high cost of seeds, fertilizers, and plant protection products). This is reflected in the low yield and sugar content of the final product. At the same time, the cost of sugar production is growing rapidly, which already exceeds the wholesale price, so almost all plants are unprofitable for several seasons in a row. This led to a decrease in the number of plants, if in 2018 the number of operating plants was 44, in 2020 only 33 were operating. The industry needs state support as soon as possible. Otherwise, the situation may be even worse in the future.