THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA EU INSTRUMENT FOR PRE-ACCESSION FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (IPARD) NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2007-2013 (Sixth modification) Skopje, 6 November 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS - IPARD - AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, 2007-2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................... 12 PREFACE ................................................................................................................. 15 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAMME ................................................... 17 PART I – SITUATION OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AREAS .......................... 18 1.1. COUNTRY PROFILE ......................................................................................... 18 1.1.1. CLIMATE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON AGRICULTURE ...................................................... 19 1.1.2. POPULATION ................................................................................................................ 22 1.1.3. POLITICAL SITUATION, GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM .................... 22 1.1.3.1. POLITICAL PROFILE ..................................................................................................... 22 1.1.3.2. GOVERNANCE CONTEXT ............................................................................................. 23 1.1.3.3. ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM AND TERRITORIAL ORGANISATION ................................... 23 1.1.4. MACRO-ECONOMIC SITUATION ................................................................................... 24 1.2. DESCRIPTION OF RURAL AREAS ................................................................. 26 1.2.1. ADMINISTRATIVE DEFINITION OF RURAL AREAS ........................................................ 26 1.2.2. DEFINITION OF THE RURAL AREAS FOR RD POLICY IMPLEMENTATION .................... 26 1.2.2.1 DESIGNATION OF RURAL AREAS ................................................................................. 26 1.2.2.2 DESIGNATION OF MOUNTAINOUS AREAS .................................................................... 27 1.2.3. RURAL DEMOGRAPHY AND EDUCATION .................................................................... 27 1.2.4. EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT STRUCTURE OF RURAL POPULATION ........... 29 1.2.5. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ................................................................. 30 1.2.5.1. SOCIAL AND HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE. ......................................................... 30 1.2.5.2. TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................................................... 30 1.2.6. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT DISPARITIES ..................................................................... 32 1.3. OUTLINE OF THE SITUATION IN THE RURAL ECONOMY ........................... 34 1.3.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND LEGAL BASIS ............. 34 1.3.2. CRAFTSMEN SECTOR ................................................................................................... 38 1.3.3. MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES IN SPECIALTY/NICHE FOOD PRODUCTS SUB- SECTOR ................................................................................................................................... 39 1.3.4. RURAL TOURISM .......................................................................................................... 41 1.4. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING .................................................... 52 1.4.1. ROLE OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INDUSTRY IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY ........... 52 1.4.2. AGRI-FOOD TRADE ...................................................................................................... 53 1.4.3. AGRICULTURAL LABOUR ............................................................................................. 58 1.4.4. AGRICULTURAL LAND ................................................................................................. 59 1.4.4.1. LAND RESOURCES AND LAND USE ............................................................................. 59 1.4.4.2. LAND OWNERSHIP AND FARM STRUCTURE ................................................................ 60 1.4.5. IRRIGATION ................................................................................................................... 61 Final version of the modified IPARD programme _ sixth modification (06.11.2014). 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS - IPARD - AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, 2007-2013 1.4.5.1. WATER RESOURCES .................................................................................................... 61 1.4.5.2 IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND WATER MANAGEMENT .................................................... 62 1.4.6. PLANT PRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 64 1.4.6.1. CEREALS ..................................................................................................................... 64 1.4.6.2. INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND FODDER................................................................................ 65 1.4.6.3. FRUIT PRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 66 1.4.6.4. VEGETABLE PRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 68 1.4.6.5. OTHER CROPS .............................................................................................................. 70 1.4.6.6. VITICULTURE .............................................................................................................. 71 1.4.6.7. ORGANIC FARMING ..................................................................................................... 73 1.4.6.8. GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ............................................................................. 75 1.4.7 ANIMAL PRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 75 1.4.7.1. DAIRY FARMING ......................................................................................................... 76 1.4.7.2. CATTLE BREEDING ...................................................................................................... 77 1.4.7.3. SHEEP AND GOAT BREEDING ...................................................................................... 78 1.4.7.4. PIG BREEDING ............................................................................................................. 81 1.4.7.5. POULTRY BREEDING ................................................................................................... 82 1.4.7.6. BEEKEEPING ................................................................................................................ 83 1.4.7.7. MILK SECTOR PRIORITIES ........................................................................................... 85 1.4.7.8. MEAT SECTOR PRIORITIES ........................................................................................... 86 1.4.7.9. ANIMAL WASTE RENDERING ....................................................................................... 86 1.4.8. AGRICULTURAL MARKETS AND MARKET POLICY ..................................................... 86 1.4.8.1. AGRICULTURE MARKETS ............................................................................................ 86 1.4.8.2. COMPETITIVENESS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ..................................................... 88 1.4.8.3. MARKET POLICIES ...................................................................................................... 89 1.4.8.4. AGRICULTURAL PRICES .............................................................................................. 90 1.4.8.5. PRODUCTION –CONSUMPTION BALANCE .................................................................... 90 1.4.8.6. TRENDS IN DEMAND AND DISTRIBUTION .................................................................... 90 1.4.9. BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT RELATED TO AGRICULTURE .............................. 92 1.4.9.1. GENERAL FEATURES OF BIODIVERSITY ....................................................................... 92 1.4.9.2. AGROBIODIVERSITY .................................................................................................... 93 1.4.9.3. AGRO-ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ........................................................................... 95 1.4.9.4. NATIONAL BREEDING PROGRAMME (INCL. SPECIES AT RISK OF LOSS) ................... 100 1.4.10. AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION SYSTEM .................................. 101 1.4.10.1. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURE .............................................................. 101 1.4.10.2. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH .................................................................................... 101 1.4.10.3. ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ............................................................ 102 1.4.10.4. CONCLUSIONS ON EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ...................................................... 103 1.4.10.5. AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICE ........................................... 104 1.4.10.6. AGRICULTURE KNOWLEDGE POLICY ...................................................................... 105 1.4.11. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL FINANCING ................................................................. 106 1.4.12. FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY ............................................................................... 107 1.4.12.1. GENERAL OVERVIEW .............................................................................................