Agriculture is an important economic sector of North Macedonia, a candidate for membership in the European Union. Agriculture includes 16 % of the working population and contributes 10.7 % of the GDP. Agriculture is dominated by small family farms, whereas 60.8 % of them are smaller than 1 ha and are substantially fragmented. Unfortunately, North Macedonia is a net importer of agri-food products and constantly faces a negative trade balance, in spite of the fact that it has some prominent export products like wine, tobacco, and vegetables. The goal of the agricultural policy is to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and the agri-food industry, as well as to develop the countryside and the long-term management of natural resources. A characteristic part of the agricultural support implemented by North Macedonia is direct payments tied to production in various forms. Macedonian agricultural policy differs significantly with respect to the scope of support and types of measures used by the EU's common agricultural policy. The country's legal framework is largely aligned with the EU acquis, although there is a need for further policy alignment.
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