The structure of rural households' income in North Macedonia: A case study in Polog and Pelagonija

Contemporary trends in rural economic development go beyond the concept that agriculture and food production are the only functions of the rural economy and move towards a broader concept that covers all resources in the rural area, including non-agricultural activities. This paper examines rural households' economic diversification focusing on their income structure and its impact on their well-being. The paper is based on a questionnaire survey conducted in the year 2018, through direct visits and interviews of 140 rural households from two statistical regions in North Macedonia, Pelagonija and Polog, with carefully designed study's sample selection methodology to capture the household characteristics. The household income structure is measured as net incomes from all on-farm and off-farm activities and other financial transfers for one calendar year. The analysis has shown that the households which have only one type of income source (I. households with on-farm incomes only from agricultural activities, II. households with on-farm incomes only from non-agricultural activities) have much lower financial success than ones with mixed income sources, while non-agricultural rural households achieve the least success. In addition, households with mixed income sources, including incomes from agriculture, have better financial results than other households with mixed income sources, which do not comprise agricultural incomes. Hence, the challenge for policymakers is to identify the best mechanism to promote rural households' economic portfolio, with a well-balanced synergy between agricultural and non-agricultural activities, based on agriculture at the centre of rural development, as complementary engines to tackle rural poverty and provide food security

Foreign trade and trade competitiveness in agri-food products between the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and North Macedonia

Foreign trade in agri-food products holds significant importance for both North Macedonia and the entity of the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), given the substantial role this sector plays in their overall trade exchange. As formal trade partners under the Central European Free Trade Agreement, understanding their trade dynamics is important. This paper aims to analyze the foreign trade exchange of agri-food products between the Republic of Srpska and North Macedonia in the 2013-2022 period. It first outlines export and import trends of the Republic of Srpska and North Macedonia in agri-food products, and then delves into the analysis of their export competitiveness. Descriptive analysis measures were employed to analyze the trade exchange involving agri-food products. The research determined the export competitiveness levels based on the trade competitiveness index for total foreign trade exchange, as well as for the agri-food sectors and its main product groups in both the Republic of Srpska and North Macedonia. The research results have shown almost an equal average share of 10.91% in exports and 10.93% in imports of agri-food sector of North Macedonia, while the Republic of Srpska recorded 140 Mrdalj et al. an average share of 17.41% in agri-food imports, and 8.13% in exports. Regarding export competitiveness, the agri-food sector of North Macedonia had characteristics of "poor export competitiveness", while the Republic of Srpska recorded "very poor export competitiveness" in the analyzed period. The calculated values of the trade competitiveness index for the main product groups of the agri-food sector of the Republic of Srpska have shown different levels of export competitiveness, from "no export competitiveness" to "strongest export competitiveness" compared with North Macedonia. However, North Macedonia and the Republic of Srpska exhibit room for improvement in enhancing export competitiveness to capitalize on market opportunities

Direct Economic Impact Assessment of Winter Honeybee Colony Losses in Three European Countries

Honeybees are of great importance because of their role in pollination as well as for hive products. The population of managed colonies fluctuates over time, and recent monitoring reports show different levels of colony losses in many regions and countries. The cause of this kind of loss is a combination of various factors, such as the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, viruses, pesticides, management practices, climate change, and other stress factors. Having in mind that the economic aspect of honeybee colony losses has not been estimated, a pioneer effort was made for developing a methodology that estimates the economic impact of honeybee colony losses. Winter loss data was based on 2993 answers of the COLOSS standard questionnaire survey of honeybee winter colony losses for 2016/2017. In addition, market and financial data were used for each country. In a comparative analysis, an assessment on the economic impact of colony losses in Austria, Czechia, and Macedonia was made. The estimation considered the value of the colonies and the potential production losses of the lost colonies and of surviving but weak colonies. The direct economic impact of winter honeybee colony losses in 2016/2017 in Austria was estimated to be about 32 Mio; in Czechia, 21 Mio; and in Macedonia, 3 Mio. Economic impact reflects the different value levels in the three countries, national colony populations, and the magnitude of colony losses. This study also suggests that economic losses are much higher than the subsidies, which underlines the economic importance of honeybees for the agricultural sector

Factors influencing rural youth migration in North Macedonia

The migration of young people from rural to urban areas poses a significant challenge to the sustainable development of rural communities in North Macedonia, leading to an aging population and diminished natural growth. This trend exacerbates socioeconomic inequalities, fostering social insecurity and the exclusion of rural youth. The far-reaching consequences of this migration influence both urban and rural landscapes across various developmental domains. To that end, this research aims to investigate the impact of main socioeconomic factors on rural youth migration. A survey of 550 rural residents aged 18-40 addressed was conducted using a tailored questionnaire. The data collection approach ensured nationwide diversity across all Macedonian planning regions, nationalities, genders, and village types. Data processing involved the application of standard descriptive analysis and a binary logistic regression approach. Key findings show that factors such as gender, marital status, region, nationality, education, employment, and ownership of family agricultural holdings do not significantly impact rural youth migration. On the contrary, having children, household size, perceptions of employment opportunities, urban or rural lifestyle preferences, and overall rating of the quality of life in rural areas exhibit notable significance. These findings contribute to a greater understanding of the complexities surrounding rural youth migration. In conclusion, the logistic regression model serves as a powerful tool to pinpoint crucial factors influencing rural youth migration. These insights provide a solid foundation for shaping targeted policies, essential for retaining and supporting rural youth and fostering sustainable development in both urban and rural areas of North Macedonia

Direct Economic Impact Assessment of Winter Honeybee Colony Losses in Three European Countries

Honeybees are of great importance because of their role in pollination as well as for hive products. The population of managed colonies fluctuates over time, and recent monitoring reports show different levels of colony losses in many regions and countries. The cause of this kind of loss is a combination of various factors, such as the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, viruses, pesticides, management practices, climate change, and other stress factors. Having in mind that the economic aspect of honeybee colony losses has not been estimated, a pioneer effort was made for developing a methodology that estimates the economic impact of honeybee colony losses. Winter loss data was based on 2993 answers of the COLOSS standard questionnaire survey of honeybee winter colony losses for 2016/2017. In addition, market and financial data were used for each country. In a comparative analysis, an assessment on the economic impact of colony losses in Austria, Czechia, and Macedonia was made. The estimation considered the value of the colonies and the potential production losses of the lost colonies and of surviving but weak colonies. The direct economic impact of winter honeybee colony losses in 2016/2017 in Austria was estimated to be about 32 Mio €; in Czechia, 21 Mio €; and in Macedonia, 3 Mio €. Economic impact reflects the different value levels in the three countries, national colony populations, and the magnitude of colony losses. This study also suggests that economic losses are much higher than the subsidies, which underlines the economic importance of honeybees for the agricultural sector