Resource information
The report is structured to allow
readers familiar with Macedonia s agriculture sector to
quickly grasp the essentials needed to improve the sector,
as well as to inform a general audience on how to address
the challenges of a modern European Union (EU)-aspiring
state. Chapter two provides an in-depth analysis of the
sectoral background, illustrating the main characteristics
and challenges of Macedonia s agriculture sector. The
illustration takes an integrated approach to the sector,
covering a vast range of inter-related topics including the
prominence of the sector not only in terms of its economic
and social contribution but also its implications for trade,
the urban-rural poverty gap and shared prosperity, farm
structure, climate adaptation, and capacity building.
Chapter three draws on lessons from the European Union (EU)
and provides a framework to analyze Macedonia s agricultural
support programs. Further, the chapter provides a primer on
the EU s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and its measures
to support agriculture. Chapter four presents concise
empirical evidence of the coverage and institutional
capacity of the agricultural programs in Macedonia under
both pillar one and pillar two measures. Chapter five then
builds on the primary diagnostic set out in the previous
chapters and critically examines the alignment of
Macedonia s agricultural programs with the government s
stated objectives of poverty reduction, competitiveness, and
sustainable development. The results are at best mixed,
suggesting substantial pathways for scaling up and
exploiting untapped opportunities. Finally, chapter six
synthesizes the overall evidence and presents policy
implications and recommendations.
