English to Italian Science Agriculture Agricoltura in Macedonia

Agriculture has traditionally been one of the most significant branches of the country's economy, with its share in the GDP of about 10%. 44% of the country's area is agricultural land (1.12 million hectare), of which 46% is cultivated and the rest is permanent pastures. 44% of the total population lives in rural areas and 18% of the workforce is engaged in agriculture. Young women in rural areas aged 20-24 years (59%) and 25-29 years (43%) face with the highest unemployment rate. 64% of rural women are officially inactive mainly because of child care and household obligations.

Agricultural products represent 4.95% of the country’s exports, and 2.4% of total imports. The share of agro-food and fishery products exported to the EU in total exports to EU is about 8% (EUR 265 million), while the share of imports from the EU in total agro-food and fishery products in 2015 was 8.67% (EUR 357 million). Although around 20% of the country’s arable land ** is under irrigation facilities **, only 5% is irrigated.