Traveling Workshop:
Empowering Rural Stakeholders
Republic of Macedonia
Background information of the sites and projects to be visited during the
Traveling Workshop of the Group 1
Date: 31 March 2014
Group: I
Location: Municipality of Staro Nagorichane.
Hosts: Municipality/Farms
Topics: Local development projects, visit of the ancient church, visit of farm household and
discussion with farmer regarding opportunities/obstacles in agriculture, national RDP,
IPARD and rural livelihood.
Staro Nagoricane is a municipality in the northeastern part of Republic of Macedonia. Staro
Nagorichane is the name of the village where the municipal seat is found. The municipality
is part of Northeastern statistical/administrative region of Macedonia. The population of the
Staro Nagoricane municipality is 4,840 of whom 555 live in the municipality center Staro
Nagorichane, while the rest lives in the villages of the municipality.
The Church of Saint George is located in the Municipality of Staro Nagoricane in the northeastern part of Macedonia, 13 km east from Kumanovo, on the slopes of Kozjak Mountain
and in the vast Pcinja River valley. The original Church was built by the Byzantine Emperor
Roman IV Diogenes in 1071. It was renovated in 1313 by the Serbian king Milutin.
The Church of St. George in the village of Staro Nagorichane is one of the most important
14th century Byzantine monuments, the architectural conception and fresco decoration of
which tally with the latest cultural achievements of Byzantine art in Thessalonica and
Constantinople. The frescoes are the second to last work of King Milutin's famous court
painters Michael and Eutychius, who decorated several churches in Macedonia and Serbia.
Their fresco paintings in Staro Nagorichane are considered, by eminent art researchers, as the
seminal work of the Byzantine art from the Palaeologue Age.
The monastery was left neglected until the end of 16th century, when renovation works were
performed. The porch (on the western part of the church) and the bell-tower were probably
built in the first half of the 20th century. In 1991 the church renewed its basic religious
service.
“Kokino”
Besides The Church of St. George one of the very significant sites in the Municipality of
Staro Nagoricane is the archaeo-astronomical site, the megalithic observatory "Kokino". It is
at an elevation of 1013 m. The megalithic observatory "Kokino" represents a unique
outstandingly well preserved site from Bronze Age in South East Europe, testimony for the
human creative genius in the usage of a specific natural resource for satisfying the vital
needs and beliefs. It is significant as: Ancient observatory and Holy Mountain.
The United States Space Agency (NASA) recognized the megalithic observatory "Kokino" as
a significant heritage of this type in its "Timeless knowledge" project in 2005. "Kokino" is
listed side by side with ancient observatories as Stonehenge (Great Britain), Abu Simbel
(Egypt), Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Machu Picchu (Peru) etc.
Farms
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Visit of dairy farm - 120 milking cows
Visit of poultry farm – 5000 hens
Date: 31March 2014
Group: I
Location:” Popova Kula”- Winery
Host:” Popova Kula”- Winery
Topic: Presentation of the winery; discussion on themes- opportunities for business growth,
contribution to rural development, IPARD, cooperation with different stakeholders
The winery Popova Kula and its vineyards are located near to the small town “Demir Kapija”
next to the highway E-75.
The valley of “Demir Kapija” is located in the southeastern part of the Tikves wine sub
region which is a part of the Vardar region. The oldest archeological findings proved that the
people in this region produced wine since the 13 century B.C. The region has favorable
climate and soil conditions for growing grape vine. The King Aleksandar Karadjordjevich
who ruled on the territories of Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Slovenia (from 1921–34) chooses this region as an ideal location for
establishing of its vineyards, where the winery Popova Kula is located today.
Popova Kula is a Greenfield investment that was established in 2004. Besides the production
of wine in 2009 Popvoa Kula finished the building of a hotel and restaurant providing
accommodation and food.
As part of the technology for the production of wine small cisterns for fermentation are used
in order to be able to control and regulate the temperature in each cistern separately. They use
barrels made from American, French, Hungarian and Macedonian oak tree. The winery has
its own storage facility for keeping and ripening of the bottled wine in controlled temperature
conditions, as well as its own laboratory.
On its vineyards the winery produces the following grape varieties: Stanushina, Vranec and
Cabernet Sauvignon, the rest they buy from the small local producers.
Date: 31 March 2014
Group: I
Location: Village Dobrejci (Municipality of Strumica)
Host: Family Farm, member of farmer association “Eko Horti”
Topic: Agricultural technology & climate change adaptive measures, marketing of
vegetables opportunities/ effects of IPARD and National RDP.
Dobrejci village is in a distance of 2.7 km from Strumica. The population mainly deals with
agricultural production on 453 hectares of arable land. According the last census from 2002,
the village has 1764 inhabitants and 460 households.
The farm is located 2 kilometers from Strumica. The family started working with agricultural
(tobacco and pepers) production since 1975. The farm has 2,5 hectares of land which is an
average size of land that majority of the farmers own in Macedonia. The crops produced are
vegetables (tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, peperoni, spinach, peas), alfalfa, wheat, corn and
tobacco. The owner of the farm is a member of the farmers’ association for production of
vegetables and flowers “Horti Eko”. The aim of the association is to advocate for interest of
the members and to provide better conditions for work and marketing of the vegetable and
flower production.
Date: 1 April 2014
Group: I
Location: Municipality of Strumica
Host: Municipality of Strumica and The Center for development of the south – east planning
region
Topic: Promotion of the LEADER approach in the South – East Planning Region of Republic
of Macedonia
The Municipality of Strumica is located in the southeastern part of Macedonia at a distance
of 22 kilometers from the border with Bulgaria. Population: 54 636 inhabitants, Strumica
itself: 35 311 Inhabitants (census 2002 )
Economy
Strumica is the main agricultural center in the Republic of Macedonia especially in the early
vegetable primary production. It has food industry, textile factories and a developed domestic
and international trade network. Strumica is also famous for its night life and international
events called Strumica Carnival and "Asterfest" (Festival of SEE Film Authors)
Education
The city of Strumica has four primary schools; three high schools: one dispersed university
Goce Delcev, which has three faculties, including Teacher Training, Economic, and
Agriculture; first private university "FON," which has six faculties, including Law, Economy,
Sport Management, Detectives and Security, Communication and IT, Foreign Languages;
and a music school
Cultural Institutions
Cultural Centre “ANTON PANOV”
This building was constructed in 1986. It occupies an area of 6000 m² and contains a
theatrical space of 336 m², a large 600-seat hall, and a small 150-seat hall. The Center also
houses a smaller theatrical space with capacity of one hundred people, display space of 207
m2, and a lobby with capacity of seventy people.
Center for development of the south – east planning region
The Centre for development of the South – East planning region is one of the 8 centres in R.
Macedonia, formed in accordance with the law of Balanced Regional Development. It
consists of 10 municipalities in the region and extends across a 2835 km2 area with a
population of 171 416 inhabitants.
Planning for regional development in the South – East represents one of the fundamental
steps towards fulfilling the mission of the regional centre for development. In addition, the
centre for regional development in the South-East region marks the beginning of the process
for identification, promotion, management and utilizing developmental potentials of the
South – East planning region.
The policy of regional development of the South – East region is a system of objectives,
instruments and measures aimed to reduce regional disparities and achieve balanced and
sustainable regional development. This will be accomplished through: increasing cooperation
among planning regions by capacity building, optimizing and valorizating natural wealth,
human capital and economic characteristics of the different regions, conserving, developing
and promoting the special identity of planning regions, revitalizing the villages, developing
areas with the specific needs, supporting inter-municipal and cross-boarder cooperation of
local self-government units to promote balanced regional development and increase the
quality of life for the citizens in the region.
Rural Development Network of the Republic of Macedonia
As a part of its activities in 2013, Rural Development Network of Republic of Macedonia
started realization of activities for promotion of the LEADER approach in municipalities in
the south – east planning region. With affirmation of the EU LEADER approach in the rural
areas, RDN aims towards developing of the capacities of all stakeholders in rural areas which
will improve their knowledge and capability for participative planning in making important
decisions for the community. RDN will support creation of an entity, Local Action Group in
a shape of public private partnership that will include partners from the public, private and
NGO sector, representing the interests of various stakeholders from 4 municipalities in this
region (Strumica,Vasilevo, Bosilovo and Novo Selo). The goal of the LAG will be to
represent the interests of the various stakeholders which exist and work in the rural areas of
the municipalities. The aim of the LAG will be to develop a local economic development
strategy which will support and unite local initiatives and actions.
For the realization of such activities that will significantly contribute to improvement of
sustainable practices in rural areas of Macedonia RDN signed a memorandum for cooperation
with the Center for development of the south – east planning region. Series of capacity
building workshops involving main stakeholders are in phase of implementation.
Date: 1 April 2014
Group: I
Location: (Municipality of Pehcevo)
Hosts: Sheep-breeding Farm/ Plum production Farm and small processing facility of forest
fruits
Pehčevo Municipality is located in the eastern part of Republic of Macedonia and it is
bordered to the east by the city of Sandanski in Bulgaria. According to the last national
census from 2002, this municipality has 5,517 inhabitants. In relation of Rural Development,
Municipality of Pehčevo prepared Sub-strategy for Rural Development as a part of the
general Strategy for Local Economic development of the Municipality. The sub-strategy for
rural development was prepared according to EU LEADER (bottom-up approach) by Local
Group for Rural Development (a group of various stakeholders simulating a LAG). The Local
Group for Rural Development was supported by a Swedish International Development
Agency -SIDA project implemented by the Rural Development Network in the early stages
of its establishment.
Topics for discussion:
- Presentations of the farms and forest fruits processing facilities
- Opportunities for growth of their production and marketing of the products.
- Opportunities for funds, credits IPARD, National RDP.
- Discussion with other CSO’s regarding available resources and potentials for rural
development
- LEADER approach as a vehicle for local economic development
Hosts
 Certified organic sheep breeding farm. Breeds only the native endangered variety of
Premenka/Ovcepolka. The farm has 175 sheep.
 Plum production. The orchard has 16945 m2, with 618 trees that are 8 to 10 years old.
The average annual production is from 25 to 30 tons of plums
 Visit of a small processing facility of forest fruits. The name of the company is
“Cekofam”, they grow mushrooms and collect a variety of forest fruits and herbs.
Many of the forests fruits are processed in marmalades, juices etc.
Date: 1 April 2014
Group: I
Location: (Municipality of Berovo)
Host: Ana Pachemska, president of the Association of Women Weavers SERAFIM from
Berovo - Woman entrepreneur in crafts production in the neighboring municipality of Berovo
Topics for discussion:
- Presentation of the products
- Discussion regarding small business opportunities and needs
Municipality of Berovo is located in the eastern part of Macedonia, near the Maleshevo
Mountains and the border with Bulgaria. The total area of the city is 595 km2, and is located
at 800 m above sea level. According to the last national census from 2002, this municipality
has 7,002 inhabitants.
Berovo Lake and the forest of the Maleshevo Mountains are two popular sites for tourists and
Berovo craftsmen are well known for their skill in traditional wood crafting. Berovo cheese is
also a well-known commodity. The climate is mild continental, in certain places modified
into mountain-continental characterized by cold winters and cool summers. Berovo is the
town with the highest concentration of oxygen on the Balkan Peninsula. The average annual
temperature is 11.1˚C. It is the town with mostly sunny days during the year in the whole
country, with an average of 6.4 sunny hours per day.
Association of Women Weavers SERAFIM
Women form Maleshevo region as keepers of the tradition are still processing the wool from
sheep and goats, making clothing, blankets, rugs, towels and more. “Filc” is a modern
technique, but in the Maleshevo region is well known a long time ago as making "kalchini"
(traditional socks and vests). The women from SERAFIM organization are actively working
on preserving and affirmation of Berovo tradition and culture, through creation of woolen
crafts and transferring the knowledge about the traditional “Filc” technique to the young
generations.