EU Support to Partnership Actions EU Environmental Policies and Strategies in South Eastern Europe: Capacity Building for the Implementation

of EU Environmental Policies and Strategies in F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

Workshop Building Capacity Supporting the Development and Implementation of Agri-environment schemes

Current Farming practices in Macedonia are they sustainable and why?

Prof. Dr. Suzana Kratovalieva e-mail: suzanakrat@yahoo.com

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Background
Agriculture is a traditional branch of the Macedonian economy, because of its favorable climatic conditions, rich natural resources, and established production experience. Out of the total land area of Macedonia of 25,713 km2, agricultural land in the Republic of Macedonia comprises around 50%, or 1.26 million hectares. Out of this, 560,000 hectares (44%) are cultivated and 704,000 hectares are considered pastures. As a key sector of the Macedonian economy, agriculture production contributes around 12% to the national GDP (2008).
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Some facts, infos According to the MAFWE Farm Registry, there are 80,000 households dealing with agriculture as the average farms are small production remains fragmented and oftentimes inconsistent limiting their competitiveness and profitability.
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

 More than 80% of the land belongs to private farms there are approximately 192,000 individual farms on roughly 320,000 hectares An average farm size of 2.5 hectares The farm size is even smaller (ranging from 0.2 1.0 hectares1) in the vegetable sector Regarding the significance of the different agricultural sub-sectors, the contribution of the livestock sector and crop production to the Agricultural Gross Production is around 21% and 79%, respectively
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Animal farming

Animal production is an important segment of Macedonian agriculture. Historically, livestock breeding has been carried out on private farms (with the exception of pigs and poultry) for a very long time In the last ten years, livestock production has witnessed a downward trend, with livestock quantity decreasing However, milk production has increased significantly since 2000
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Animal farming Broiler Production

Specialized broiler production is a relatively new development, but is steadily increasing despite the large imports of frozen broiler meat Broiler production is organized on big farms of the industrial type >30 smaller private farms organize broiler production based upon on a cooperative principle, which provides only 38% of the annual poultry meat demands in Macedonia.
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Animal farming Sheep Production

The sheep breeding sub-sector has a long tradition, which has been supported by favorable natural conditions (50% of the agricultural area consists of pastures) The number of sheep, since an official animal registry and tagging system does existed stands at approximately 1.3 million sheep

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Agriculture Fruit farming Most of the traditional fruit production is located in the C and SW parts of Macedonia Soft fruit production, such as with strawberries, are a relatively recent development in Macedonia Due to their high value and high demand on local markets, they may be a valuable alternative for smaller Macedonian farmers.
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Agriculture Vegetable farming

Macedonia is a unique country where the land cultivated for vegetables makes up about 50,000 hectares (10% of the total arable land). Almost all of the vegetable production comes from individual farms (97% of volume from 102,000 farms), while the remainder is covered by company production (3% from 50 entities). From Y2000 onwards, vegetable production has been continuously increasing, with the leading fresh crops being peppers, tomatoes, melons, cabbage and cucumbers. The greenhouse cultivation of vegetables is considered a profitable activity.
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Are they sustainable?

Sustainable farming practices, such as zero tillage or integrated pest control, can reduce the need for agricultural inputs like chemicals or water, improve carbon sequestration and help prevent land degradation.

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Walking beyond the way , but towards EU, there was appeared need of CAP reforms and start with supports

 Subsidies per unit of product  Subsidies for the purchase of protective equipment, fertilizers, machinery
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

But, also of
 Negative consequences  There was a poisoning and allergies  Genetically modified organisms  The world depends on a few crops  Pollution of soil and water
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Thereby
 Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in 2003  Establishment of standards for quality and food safety  Nitrate directive - Good Agricultural Practice Payments per unit area

Because
 New Member States by 2016 should be 100% funded by the EC  Only those agricultural entities will abide by established standards of the Common Agricultural Policy will be able to take advantage of the support.
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

What are Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)?

Good agricultural practice is accepted as an expression of good will of all Member States. Refers to agricultural development by giving priority to the protection of the environment and human health at national, regional and global level. Good Agricultural Practices are "practices that address environmental, economic and social sustainability for on-farm processes, and result in safe and quality food and non-food agricultural products" (FAO COAG 2003 GAP paper).

GAP practices: ensuring safety and quality of produce in the food chain capturing new market advantages by modifying supply chain governance improving natural resources use, workers health and working conditions, and/or creating new market opportunities for farmers and exporters in developing countries.
Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

 2007-1st version is made (inapplicable, too large and complicated)  Recommendations:

-To develop a legal framework (Regulation on GAP) -To prepare a manual of GAP -To make thematic brochures on GAP (for farmers)

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

25.08.2010)

IPARD

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

GAP means
GAP may serve as a reference tool for deciding, at each step in the production process, on practices and/or outcomes that are environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable. The implementation of GAP should therefore contribute to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD)

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Potential benefits of GAP

Appropriate adoption and monitoring of GAP helps improve the safety and quality of food and other agricultural products. It may help reduce the risk of non-compliance with national and international regulations, standards and guidelines (in particular of the Codex Alimentarius Commission , World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the International Plant Protection Convention IPPC regarding permitted pesticides, maximum levels of contaminants (including pesticides, veterinary drugs, radionuclide and mycotoxins) in food and non-food agricultural products, as well as other chemical, microbiological and physical contamination hazards. Adoption of GAP helps promotes sustainable agriculture and contributes to meeting national and international environment and social development objectives.

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Challenges related to GAP

In some cases GAP implementation and especially record keeping and certification will increase production costs. In this respect, lack of harmonization between existing GAP-related schemes and availability of affordable certification systems has often led to increased confusion and certification costs for farmers and exporters. Standards of GAP can be used to serve competing interests of specific stakeholders in agri-food supply chains by modifying supplier-buyer relations. There is a high risk that small scale farmers will not be able to seize export market opportunities unless they are adequately informed, technically prepared and organised to meet this new challenge with governments and public agencies playing a facilitating role. Compliance with GAP standards does not always foster all the environmental and social benefits which are claimed. Awareness raising is needed of 'win-win' practices which lead to improvements in terms of yield and production efficiencies as well as environment and health and safety of workers. One such approach is Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM).

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Regarding FAO Strategy

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip

Workshop "Building Capacity" 25-26 Nov 2010 Probistip