Skopje - Today in Negorci village, the Climate Change Caravan organized by the USAID Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture (ACCA) project made its second of six stops in rural areas of the country. The Caravan was designed to reach rural communities and educate small farmers and other citizens about the anticipated effects of climate change, share strategies for adapting to these effects, and emphasize the importance of proactive responses to them at the grassroots level. 

“Climate change is a reality in Macedonia, and every year we are witnessing a greater and more intense floods, droughts, hail, which cause great damage to agricultural production. Therefore we should be more familiar with the technologies and measures necessary to preserve our yield in which it is invested enormous effort and resources,” said Petar Gjorgievski, the President of the Rural Development Network of the Republic of Macedonia.

The USAID ACCA project is testing, demonstrating and disseminating innovative adaptive agricultural practices that have the potential to minimize some of the expected adverse global warming impacts on high value crops grown by small farmers.  The project focuses on the Mediterranean zone, including the Vardar region with parts of Strumica and Gevgelija, agriculturally rich areas that are most affected by climate change.  In May and June, the Caravan will also visit the villages of Timjanik, Pcinja, Bogdanci and Rosoman.  

NOTES TO EDITORS:   
The three-year USAID Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture project, implemented by the Rural Development Network (RDN), was launched in April 2012 and aims to promote agricultural practices adaptive to climate change and raise the awareness of the forthcoming challenges of climate change and the need for joint, community level responses. RDN in Macedonia works to demonstrate a structured approach in mobilizing rural communities to become stronger agents of local development and improve rural policy at the local, regional, national and EU levels.  More than 50 civil society organizations as members of the Network are voicing their concerns at the national level.  For details, please visit: www.ruralnet.mk or RDN FB pagehttps://www.facebook.com/RuralDevelopmentNetwork.
 

The American people, through USAID, have invested over $500 million in Macedonia since 1993. USAID is working with the people of Macedonia to create jobs, strengthen democratic institutions and practices, enhance integrated education, and prepare students for the workforce. These initiatives improve the quality of life and support Macedonia’s transition to a stable and prosperous democracy. USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries. For more information please visit http://macedonia.usaid.gov and USAID FB page http://www.facebook.com/USAIDMacedonia.