MK – NI 026

The indicator is calculated as share (percentage) of area under organic farming (sum of existing areas under organic farming and areas in a process of conversion for organic farming) in the total area or total cultivable land area.

The indicator is presented as sum of area under organic farming and area being converted for organic farming, measured in ha. Share of organic farming is given as a percentage of total utilized agricultural area.

Whether the share of organic cultivable area in the total cultivable area is in increase?

In the period under review, the production areas and areas under organic production have a variable trend of growth and decline. Production areas with organic production have a positive trend with increase of 7.8 times, from 266 hectares in 2005 to 2.073,37 hectares in 2016. The areas under conversion have the largest increase, by 17 times in the period from 2005 to 2011, and the largest decline in the period from 2011 to 2014. A positive trend in increase of the areas under conversion occurs again in 2015 and 2016, and thus compared to 2014 there is a 28 % growth noted in 2016.

The dynamics of the total certified production area with organic agricultural production, follows the above stated dynamics of increase and decrease in the number of organic operators, over the years.

In relation to the target of 4% set for 2020, we could note that the share of organic production in relation to the total arable agricultural area, is still minor with only 0.26%.

Figure1. Area under organic agricultural production

Figure 2. Share of area under organic agricultural production in cultivable and total agricultural area

Figure 3.Organic vegetable production in haby type of culture

Figure 4. Ratio between the number of operators and the area under organic agricultural production

Data coverage: excel

Source: Statistical Yearbook, State Statistical Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Division of Organic farming.

During the period under review, the production areas and areas under organic conversion have a variable trend of growth and decline. Production areas with organic production have a positive trend with increase of 7.8 times, from 266 hectares in 2005 to 2.073,37 hectares in 2016.

The areas under conversion have the largest increase in the period from 2005 to 2011, from 326,54 hectares in 2005 to 5.573,66 hectares in 2011, meaning a 17 times increase. But then, in the period from 2011 to 2014, there is a huge decline in the areas under conversion, from 5.573,66 hectares to 910.88 hectares, which points to the fact that during this period the areas under conversion have been significantly reduced. A positive trend of increase of the areas under conversion is noted again in 2015 and 2016. Compared to 2014, in 2016 the areas under conversion increased by 28%.

The share of total area under organic agricultural production (production + conversion) in the total arable land, increased from 0.109% in 2005 to 1.288% in 2011, while in 2012 the share decreased and it was 0.914%, whereas the negative trend continued until 2014. From 2014 to 2016, we would note a further increase in the area of organic agricultural production, in the total arable land. In 2016, compared to 2014, the share increased to 0.63%, but unfortunately, compared to 2011 when it had the largest share, the share in 2016 declined by 51%.

The share of organic agricultural production areas in the total arable land is insignificant, taking into account the National Plan for organic production 2013-2020, in which until 2020, the objective is for organic arable land to be 4% in the total arable land in Republic of Macedonia, which in 2016 is only 0.26%.

Figure 3 shows that grain cultures are the leading organic cultures in Republic of Macedonia in 2016, with a share of 28.96%, followed by forage crops with 23.12%, while the vineyards are with participation of 0.54% in the total certified areas.

The number of certified organic operators in the period from 2005 to 2011 increased in proportion with the growth of areas under organic agricultural production (figure 4), yet it declined from 2012 to 2014, and again having an increase of 54.9% in the period from 2014 until 2016.

The method of the European Environmental Agency.

The indicator is presented as sum of area under organic farming and area being converted for organic farming, divided by the total cultivable land area or total agricultural area. This value is multiplied by 100 in order to present the value in percentage.