Potatoes planted in an area of thousands of decares in Konya are processed in the factory established within Konya Şeker and exported frozen, while their peels are used to generate electricity.
Ramazan Erkoyuncu, Chairman of PANKOBİRLİK and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Konya Şeker, said that they have contracted cultivation with many farmers in a total area of 20 thousand decares.
Erkoyuncu stated that “these potatoes are processed in Seydibey Integrated Facilities established between Beyşehir and Seydişehir districts. He stated that they turned the potatoes produced by Turkish farmers into a brand and sold them to the whole world, including the European and African continents, especially Russia and Arab countries, as well as the domestic market. The annual production capacity of the factory is 110 thousand tons. We get approximately 70 percent of the potatoes we need from the Konya. We buy 30 percent from farmers in hot and warm regions, in cities such as Hatay, Adana, Tokat, Ödemiş, where potato is planted before Konya. We have direct exports to more than 20 countries. We export 15 million dollars’ worth of products annually. 350 people are employed in the factory. We will also increase capacity in our potato production. Of course, this supply also depends on demand. Our brand perception of our products in the market is quite good. In the factory equipped with modern and technological products, waste potato peels are evaluated and used in biogas production facilities and electricity generation in the factory area. In addition to our solar power plants, we also have biogas factories. We use potato and beet residues and produce electricity from biogas.”
