The Republic of Macedonia’s East Planning Region was established according the Law on Equal
Regional Development
in May 2008 and is one of 8 Planning Regions. It includes 11 municipalities
and an area of 3537 km2
, residing 181.858 inhabitants. There are 217 settlements, of which 209 are
registered as rural. Population density is 51 person/km2
.
Data form the latest Census in Agriculture (2007) indicate serious potential for agricultural activities
throughout the region as the number of animals did not suffer major fall, the area under pastures and
meadows is rather high while the absence of industry and tradition in practicing agriculture among
farmers kept the environment almost in-tact.
Regardless the opportunities Macedonian farmers are striving to reach competitiveness on the
domestic and international markets, and farmers from East Planning Region are no exception to this
point as well. Due to low income levels by activities in agriculture many young people left the
villages looking for a better life in the cities or abroad.
In 2010 a Study for Sustainable Development of Organic Agriculture in the East Planning Region was
conducted in order to check the possibilities for development in that area. The outcome of the study
indicate that based on current situation sustainable development could be reached if the following
steps would be implemented: a) Natural resources research activities, as there are little or no data on
climate condition or soil types; b) Building up a system for transfer of knowledge, technologies and
information; c) Development of adequate market approach; d) Establishing organic production on 4
crop types; e) Renovation of old water-mills with an opportunity for rural tourism; f) Development a
standard for set of products originating from this region and g) Creating a brand name for the set of
products.