Macedonian agriculture
preconditions for development of the agro-sector in Macedonia towards EU accession
MacedoniaAgricultureFarm accountancy data network (FADN)Farm monitoring system (FMS)CompetitiveEU accession
The focus of the thesis is: how conditions for agriculture in the Republic of Macedonia today may form the basis for development of the agricultural sector towards conditions needed for future accession into the European Union. The method for investigating this question has been to look at newly available farm monitoring system (FMS) data from Macedonia. Also to look at the latest government policies created in the country for the agricultural sector and rural areas in relation to the requirements for EU accession. Articles and empirical studies published by other authors related to the questions which arise in this study have been reviewed and presented herein. Trade relations, trade patterns and national economic and agricultural trends are displayed to provide a background overview for the study of the agricultural sector. Improved competitiveness of the agricultural production sector and sustainable income sources and livelihoods for people in rural areas are interrelated questions. The types of farming which reveal the highest amounts of gross margin according to the used FMS sample from the years 2005-2008 are presented. The main agricultural exports reveal potential in some of the regions in the country and regional descriptions based on the sampled farms are presented. Gross margins for the different regions and types of farming per farm are presented to show suggestions for how the agricultural sector may increase competitiveness. Competitiveness is needed to be able to compete with other European producers in the European Union?s single market which is needed when a significant share of Macedonia?s GDP comes from agriculture. Wine, sheep, vegetables and fruit production are interesting for some areas of Macedonia. Mixed farming or mixed plant farming appear to be the most viable types of farming in areas where risk diversification may be needed due to climate conditions and fluctuating input and output prices.