National Extension Agency in Republic of Macedonia Igor Zlatkov, MSc General manager

Legal setup of NEA National Extension Agency (NEA was established by the Law for establishing the National Extension Agency (Official Gazette of RM no. 3/98 of 22.01.1998) According to the Law for Establishment and Low for Organization and Work of the State Administration, NEA is defined as a Body of state government, with legal entity and it’s independent in its work According to the Law on Civil Servants, NEA staff from 01.01.2012 have the status of civil servants

Organizational structure

Human resources in NEA NEA has a total of 124 employees of which 90 are university graduates mostly engineers agronomists NEA has 86 field advisors NEA works in the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, with offices in 30 cities, grouped into six regions with Headquarters in Bitola and 44 dispersed offices in rural areas

Territorial distribution

NEA advisory activities In order to adjust the Macedonian agriculture to standards for agricultural production within the EU, NEA is providing direct assistance to farmers for applying appropriate measures: in crop production, viticulture and fruit production: the introduction of new technologies in farming, proper use of fertilizers, selection of species and varieties, raising and breeding of crops, setting up demonstration trials with new varieties and technologies and variety trials and In livestock production: introduction and reference to the application of new technologies and measures to improve production features, providing proper nutrition for better quality products (milk, meat, wool, eggs, etc.);

NEA advisory activities Assistance in organizing farmers in producers groups and further cooperation with organizations of farmers; Directing farmers to produce crops and products according to market needs (high value agricultural products); Transfer of technical knowledge to the farmers and scientifically applied achievements in agricultural production; Instruction, demonstration of modern procedures for storage and processing of agricultural products (vegetable and animal) and preparation for market; Professional training of farmers through maintenance of counseling, seminars, courses, etc.; Establishment and use of information systems in agricultural production; Preparation of information and advertising magazines, brochures, pamphlets, manuals covered with novelties by domestic and foreign sources of information in the field of agriculture

NEA activities as support of Government programs In the implementation of measures promoted by the government in the development and adaptation of Macedonian agriculture, NEA is providing direct assistance to farmers in: Support in implementation of the Program for financial support in agriculture (direct payments), Support in implementation of the Program for financial support in rural development (popularly called 50:50 program), Support in implementation of the IPARD program, Support in implementation of other government measures: Good agricultural practice, Proper use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture, Insurance in agriculture, LPIS, Legalization of farm buildings and machinery, Registration of farmers, LEADER approach, Organic production, Agro-environmental payments

Methodology of providing the services Information, Education, Direct support in application (business plan, investment program, filling the application forms…) Through: Individual approach Group approach Meetings, Trainings, Practical activities Teaching/learning process Mass-media Written materials (brochures, pamphlets, manuals …)

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