Water resources policy and administrative management

Prespa is a region where the apple production is present on approximately 3200 hectares. That is the most concentrated apple production not only in the R. Macedonia but also in the whole region. At the moment nearly 2000 households apple producers are registered in the region of Prespa which enables existence of nearly 8000 members of their narrowest families. Currently, the apple production realizes itself under circumstances of nonexistence of Service for following and prognosis of diseases and pests, which enables appliance of only the traditional, calendar based way of protection from them. One part of the apple production is concentrated in the region of the ornithological reserve Ezerani which is under protection in compliance with the Ramsar Convention and its narrowest surrounding on 450 hectares land. The deltas of the rivers Golema and Istocka are located on one part of the reservation land and through it these two rivers flow into the Prespa Lake. The way which is currently used to protect the plantations is a condition which leads to balance disruption of the natural ecosystem, including Prespa Lake as the most important cross-border water resource in the region. The introduction of the integral way of apple production protection enables optimal way of using the preparations for apple plantation treatment. By the reduced use of pesticides, not only that the environment will be protected but also the production costs will be reduced which will directly affect the price and the competitiveness of the products. Receiving a product which will satisfy the increasingly rigorous European quality criteria, imposed by the market, is of particular significance. During the project realization there will be 30 pheromone traps on 5 locations and 2 agro-meteorological stations placed, which together with the already existing ones will enable covering of 900 hectares land under apple plantations. The two agronomists included in the project will be trained for their use, which will directly improve the capacities of the Service for prognosis and signal system. The everyday following of the condition with the diseases and pests will enable well-timed apple plantation treatment on the defined locations, which will be expected to result in 25% decrease of the number of treatments. At the same time and as a result of the appropriate preparation use, it is expected that the production costs by unit of product and the treated land will decrease for 10 to 15%, considering that pesticides participate with 25-30% of the product price. The Service for prognosis and signal system will establish direct communication with the direct users, and the others will be informed through regular reports in the local electronic media and through the agricultural pharmacies in the Prespa region.

Macedonia