World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: North Macedonia’s fields are thirsty, and agriculture is under serious threat
Agricultural land accounts for around half of the country’s total area, making drought a risk with direct consequences for food production, farmers’ incomes and the rural economy. Against the backdrop of reduced and poorly distributed rainfall, higher temperatures and longer dry periods, the need for more efficient water use and more resilient production practices is becoming increasingly urgent. On the occasion of 17 June, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, a regional project implemented with the support of the German Government through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) highlights the importance of practical, science-based solutions that can help farmers adapt more effectively to climate-related risks.
Climate projections for the country indicate that, under a high-emissions scenario, temperatures could rise by 5°C by the end of the century, summer rainfall could decline by 40 percent, and the number of summer days could increase by 50 to 60 days per year. Prof. Dr Tosho Arsov from the Department of Fruit Growing at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food in Skopje points out that climate change is having an increasingly pronounced impact on agricultural production.
“Looking back over the years, the average annual temperature in our country has already increased by one to two degrees. Higher temperatures have a negative impact on continental fruit species. Combined with lower rainfall, they create a serious challenge for cultivating orchards without access to irrigation. In the past, we could say that plums in the Maleshevo region could be grown without irrigation, while apples could, under certain conditions, be grown with minimal irrigation. Today, we can no longer recommend intensive cultivation of any fruit species without secured irrigation conditions. Agriculture is facing low temperatures in the late spring months (April and May), water scarcity, frequent hail events, dry and hot summers, and reduced relative air humidity. All of this creates pressure and increases the need for solutions that support adaptation to these changes,” explains Prof. Dr Arsov.
Prof. Dr Aleksandra Martinovska Stojcheska from the Institute of Agricultural Economics at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food highlights the importance of agriculture for the economy, as well as the challenges arising from the structure of the sector, which is dominated by smaller farms.
“Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of our economy. It accounts for around one tenth of gross domestic product and has a similar share in employment, meaning the number of people engaged in the sector. In recent years, its share in both the economy and employment has been declining, while the value of the sector itself has gradually increased. The country has considerable potential for agricultural production, but the challenges we face are also significant. The agricultural structure still consists of a very large number of small farms. Ninety-five per cent of farms have less than five hectares of agricultural land, while the average farm size, according to the latest available data, is 1.8 hectares. This is significantly smaller than in the countries of the European Union, but also smaller than in some neighbouring countries,” explains Prof. Dr Martinovska Stojcheska.
In parthership with the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food, an experimental field has already been established in Dolno Lisiche, Skopje. This activity is part of broader regional support by the German Government for climate adaptation in the Western Balkans in order to test different approaches to adapting agricultural production to climate change. These include different rootstocks, planting distances and irrigation regimes, with the aim of identifying which combinations are better suited to drought, high temperatures and other climate-related risks.
“Agricultural production is a factory in the open air. Certain crops can be grown in protected and controlled conditions, but fruit production involves tall plants and large areas that cannot be fully protected. This is why solutions must be tested directly in the field, because laboratory conditions are one thing and real field conditions are another. Over time, this location will show us how we can respond to different climate risks. During the summer, dry air currents may occur, while the Skopje area, particularly in July and August, is exposed to intense solar radiation and the risk of sunburn. Hail is also frequent and can cause considerable damage. The aim is to identify ways to reduce or fully eliminate the negative impact of these climate-related events on agricultural production,” explains Prof. Dr Arsov.
By testing solutions under real-life conditions, the project, implemented with the support of the German Government through GIZ, aims to translate scientific knowledge into practical recommendations for farmers. The results are expected to contribute to more efficient water use, reduced losses and the selection of production practices that are better able to respond to drought and other climate-related risks.
In addition to the activities in Dolno Lisiche, the project’s broader regional approach includes demonstration projects for climate change adaptation in agriculture in Albania. The aim is to test solutions under different local conditions and to share and adapt the resulting experience and practical recommendations for use in other parts of the Western Balkans. The project supports the development of applicable demonstration solutions, regional knowledge exchange and the transfer of lessons learned among institutions, experts and agricultural producers.
