National Plan for organic production 2013–2020.

This publication, drafted by the Macedonian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, contains the National Plan for organic production for the period from the year 2013 until the year 2020.
The Plan is defined as an instrument that provides the basis for the further development of organic production sector and related practices in the Republic of Macedonia. At the same time this National Plan sets out the guidelines, basis for planning and delivering financial support, activities and measures or policies to be implemented by the Macedonian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy on the future development of organic production in the Republic of Macedonia. Historical development of organic production in the Republic of Macedonia is chronologically listed on pages 6, 7 and 8.
The Plan is divided into two main Chapters. In Chapter 1 based on the SWOT analysis in various agricultural sub-sectors; Chapter 2 outlines the strategic goals for organic production, sets the specific objectives of related policies and measures to be implemented. This Chapter further provides for the complete text of the Action plan for organic production, which identifies the areas of intervention, the measures, the manner of implementation of necessary measures and time-frame for their implementation. This Plan closely analyzes and describes the following topics, all in relation to the organic production: crop production, education and science, rural development implications and issues, trade, raw materials, overall processing of organic products, livestock production, control and certification, list of related or relevant national and European legislation, collection of wild plants and fruits, stakeholder situation, and organic production strategy.
Concrete aims and objectives are to increase the competitiveness of organic production in the Republic of Macedonia due to successful placement on domestic and foreign markets. Specific objectives are by 2020: primary agricultural production arable land under organic production should have a share of 4% in the total arable agricultural land in Macedonia and 4% of the total certified animals in organic livestock (including beekeeping and fishing) of the total livestock fund in the Republic of Macedonia; to identify and support strategically important organic products; to improve the availability of raw materials permitted for use in organic matter production. As regards manufacturing industry: to diversify the sectors of the processing industry involved in processing of organic agricultural products; to increase the supply and range of organic farming products and production in general; as regards the trade: to increase the range and quantities of organic agricultural products; to increase the demand and consumption of organic agricultural products; to increase public awareness as regards the concept of organic food; to use the opportunities for consumption of organic products through development of eco-tourism; to increase the placement of Macedonian organic agricultural products on export markets. As regards the control and certification: to increase competition in the offer of control and certification services; to implement the institutional strengthening of the organic production surveillance systems. As regards the education and science: to increase the share of education in the field of organic production (in both formal and non-formal education); to increase the effective number of accredited organic production modules; to intensify the research on organic farming techniques in the Republic Macedonia; to intensify and expand the necessary research on the potential of natural resources in the Republic of Macedonia; to start the related market research. As regards the policies and legislation: to offer the institutionally strengthened and professionally trained institutions involved in organic production system (knowledge, human resources, infrastructure); to increase cooperation and communication between all involved and stakeholders; to strengthen organic farming associations and to support their networking and collaboration; to support organic farming associations networking and cooperating with co-operatives. As regards the collection of wild species: to increase the number of entities and areas certified for collecting such wild species; to increase the supply of certified wild species; to establish a sustainable use of natural resources through organic certification of involved entities.