Enhancing land management policy: MAFWE, EU, and FAO initiate the development of the new National Strategy on Land Consolidation

An event for lunching the preparation of the new National Strategy on Land Consolidation for the period 2022-2030 was organized in Skopje today, under the EU-funded project ‘’Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia’’, co-funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy (MAFWE).

At the event, Head of the Land Consolidation Department in MAFWE, Kiril Georgievski, and FAO National Team Leader, Kristina Mitic Arsova, presented the key achievements of the National Land Consolidation Strategy 2012-2020, and lessons learned from the previous strategic period that will serve as a basis for the development of the new Strategy on Land Consolidation 2022-2030. Maxim Gorgan, Land Tenure Officer from the FAO Regional Office in Europe and Central Asia (REU), further presented the goals, objectives, and the inclusive process for the development of the new Strategy, providing a roadmap for a sustainable land policy that will foster greater efficiency and resilience of the agricultural sector over the next decade.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Ljupcho Nikolovski, highlighted the strategic importance, unwavering determination, and active engagement of the Macedonian government in addressing the challenges of agricultural land fragmentation and small-scale agricultural holdings. ‘’With the invaluable support of our partners, the European Union and FAO, we are committed to improving the competitiveness of Macedonian agricultural production, enhancing the quality of life in rural areas, and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources – as  the fundamental objectives of the previous National Strategy on Land Consolidation for 2012-2020’’ – he stated.

Minister Nikolovski acknowledged the achievements of the previous National Strategy on Land Consolidation. ‘’The legal and institutional framework for land consolidation was established, capacities were strengthened, awareness was raised among farmers, financial and strategic planning foundations were laid, and land consolidation projects were successfully implemented on the ground. The fragmentation of land parcels has been significantly reduced in nine areas of the country, with consolidation reaching 4.7 times in the village of Dabjani. Improvements in the shape of parcels were also noticeable in all land consolidation areas. This success has paved the way for even more effective and sustainable land consolidation efforts in the future’’ – he pointed out.

‘’The new National Land Consolidation Strategy is a crucial tool for promoting sustainable land use and advancing the ongoing progress of structural land reform in North Macedonia's agriculture sector’’ said Nabil Gangi, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia in his opening remarks. ‘’We should take pride in the fact that the new strategy has a solid foundation to build upon, drawing from a decade of experience in land consolidation in North Macedonia, including the achievements and lessons learned from the previous strategic period’’- he added.

The event convened representatives from key relevant national institutions and agencies, the association of the units of local self-governments, civil society and farmers’ organizations and the media.

About the EU-funded ‘’Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia’’ Project

Building directly on the results of the MAINLAND project, this project aims to assist MAFWE in further enhancing land consolidation in North Macedonia by improving the national policy on land consolidation, including strategic, legal, and institutional frameworks, as well as to continue supporting the implementation of the National Land Consolidation Programme through a full-fledged implementation of land consolidation projects in two project areas, combined with construction of agricultural infrastructure. The project also supports the preparation of a new National Strategy for Land Consolidation and Action Plan for the period 2022-2030. Several key activities, such as establishing a Project Advisory Group on land consolidation, reviewing national policies, legislation and programs to assess the results achieved in the previous strategic period, and preparing a Policy Note on multi-purpose land consolidation are currently ongoing. From May 2023 to December 2024, consultation workshops will be conducted on the draft Strategy, to facilitate stakeholder engagement and conslutations and the government approval process, followed by a public awareness-raising campaign from February 2025 to October 2025 to promote the new Strategy at country level. The Project budget is EUR 1.2 million, financed from the EU IPA II 2019 Assistance (EUR 1 million) and FAO contribution (EUR 0.2 million). The project is implemented over a period of 42 months, from August 2022 until January 2026.