2013年-世界发展银行全球_Macedonia_Former_Yugoslav_Republic_of___Analysis_of_the_Agricultural_Support_Programs_68页_1mb

报告摘要

Summary of the Agricultural Support Programs in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Core Content

This report, prepared by the World Bank, analyzes the agricultural support programs in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) and evaluates their effectiveness in achieving strategic objectives related to social welfare, competitiveness, and sustainable rural development. It also highlights the challenges and opportunities for reform, especially in the context of Macedonia's aspirations to join the European Union (EU).

Main Characteristics of Macedonia's Agriculture Sector

Economic Contribution: Agriculture plays a significant role in Macedonia's GDP, contributing around 10% over 2006–2011, which is much higher than the EU-27 average of 2%.
Employment: It accounts for 19% of the labor force, compared to 4% in the EU-27.
Trade: Agriculture and food make up 15% of total exports and 12% of total imports in 2011.
Consumption: Food and beverages represent 40% of household consumption, significantly higher than the EU-27 average of 17%.
Public Expenditure: Public spending on agricultural programs is 2.1% of GDP, compared to 0.5% in the EU-27 and EU-12 New Member States.

Key Challenges

Land Markets: Non-functional land markets and outdated ownership titles limit the consolidation of farms and hinder private investment.
Import Protection: High import tariffs for fruits and vegetables negatively affect the competitiveness of the agri-food sector and reduce the effectiveness of public expenditures.
Public Goods Underfunding: Critical public goods such as irrigation, advisory services, and applied agricultural research are severely underfunded, which limits the potential for sustainable growth and development.
Inefficient Subsidies: Recurrent farm subsidies dominate the budget, while less intensive production types are not adequately supported.
Low Absorption of Funds: Rural development program funds are underutilized due to a poor investment climate and inadequate institutional capacity.

Evolution of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Lessons for Macedonia

The CAP has evolved from price support to decoupled payments and rural development.
Decoupled payments and rural development measures are more effective in promoting competitiveness and sustainable growth.
The report draws on the experiences of New Member States (NMS) and the EU's policy developments to guide Macedonia's reform efforts.

Main Features of Agricultural Support Programs in Macedonia

Direct Payments: These are the primary form of agricultural support, with a focus on area and livestock payments.
Recurrent Subsidies: A substantial portion of the budget is allocated to recurrent subsidies, which do not address structural inefficiencies.
Rural Development Programs: These include the National Rural Development Program (NRDP) and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance in Rural Development (IPARD).
Program Complexity: The complexity of the programs increases administrative costs and reduces transfer efficiency.

Analysis of Agricultural Support Programs

Objective 1 (Social Welfare): Current programs do not effectively reduce poverty, as larger farms disproportionately benefit.
Objective 2 (Competitiveness): High import protection and inefficient subsidies reduce the competitiveness of the sector.
Objective 3 (Sustainable Development): The lack of investment in public goods undermines long-term sustainability and resilience to climate change.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Improving Allocative Efficiency: A better balance between subsidies and public goods is essential for effective agricultural policy.
Simplifying Direct Payments: Converting output subsidies into area/livestock payments and grouping them by production intensity could improve efficiency.
Land Market Reforms: Privatization and consolidation of state-owned land, along with regulatory improvements, are needed to enhance competitiveness.
Trade Policy Reforms: Reducing import protection and implementing more market-based trade policies can improve the link between agricultural support and sustainable growth.
Enhancing Institutional Capacity: Strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy and the Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD) Paying Agency is crucial.
Impact Evaluation: Rigorous impact assessments should be conducted using data from the Integrated Administrative Control System (IACS), especially the National Farm Registry.
Social Protection Integration: Social assistance and pensions can be more effective in reducing rural poverty without undermining competitiveness.

Supporting Actions by the World Bank

The World Bank can assist in the design and implementation of agricultural support programs, particularly through capacity building and policy advice.
It can support the development of efficient advisory services and agricultural research systems.
The Bank can help in the privatization and management of state-owned agricultural land.
Technical assistance can be provided to improve the functionality of the IACS and enhance the use of data for policy-making.

Annexes and Supporting Data

Annex 1: Describes the "Field Crops Area Payment" measure and required documentation.
Annex 2: Lists direct payment measures for 2011.
Annex 3: Shows the distribution of crop area payments in 2011.
Annex 4: Details the distribution of livestock payments in 2011.
Annex 5: Provides an overview of the realization of funds under the Program for Financial Support of Rural Development for 2008–2011.

Figures and Tables

Figures: Highlight the vulnerability of the agriculture sector to climate change, the evolution of the CAP, and the absorption of rural development funds.
Tables: Present macroeconomic contributions, poverty rates, farm structure, and the distribution of direct payments and public goods.

Final Notes

The report emphasizes the need for a more integrated and efficient approach to agricultural support, with a focus on public goods and market-oriented reforms.
It serves as a foundation for future detailed analyses and policy improvements.

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