Conditions and perspectives for the development of vegetable production in the Republic of Macedonia

The process of cultivating vegetable crops is determined by biological peculiarity and biological value. The genetic potential of these crops is compatible with the ecological conditions in certain regions, including the Republic of Macedonia. Macedonia has 70.000 ha of cultivated soil on which vegetable crops are grown as both protected cultivation and in open fields. Production in open fields can be early, semi-early and late; and these products are destined to become industrial raw material. There is the capacity for processing 79.000 t, of which 74.000 t are for vegetables, 2.420 t are to be frozen and over 1.700 t are dehydrated. Protected crop production in greenhouses is presently 254 ha, and 4.000 - 8.000 ha in plastic-houses. The principal protected crops cultivated are: tomato, cucumber, pepper, cabbage, watermelon, etc. Winter-spring production dominates; the yields of these open and closed surfaces are relatively high. In general, the biochemical quality of the production is high, especially as an ecological nutrias product. Also important is the production of high quality reproductive material. The methods of vegetable production in the Republic of Macedonia compare favorably to more ecologically developed biotechnological productive methods.