CURRENT CONDITIONS IN TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN MACEDONIA - SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS, DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The Republic of North Macedonia, both regionally and globally, is known for producing high-quality aromatic Oriental tobacco. It is a country where quality types of Oriental tobacco are traditionally cultivated, alongside well-known regions in Turkey, such as Izmir and the Aegean region, where there are ecological conditions for producing high-quality Oriental tobacco. As a small continental country in the Balkans, Macedonia represents a "golden triangle" in the process of Oriental tobacco production and a long-term relatively stable traditional producer compared to surrounding countries that also produce this type of tobacco. Driven by the demands of the global market, scientific and technological advancements worldwide, and the available natural, production, and human potentials, it can be stated that today, and even more so in the future, there will be a significant need to elevate the quality of tobacco production to a much higher level, considering the demands of buyers and the need for efficient and effective production. Looking ahead, tobacco production, with certain oscillations, has a stable trend in movements, with gentle upward trends in global production, which our country must also follow and adapt to. The future of tobacco production will largely depend on good agricultural and export policies, as well as good state subsidy policies, all aimed at encouraging and directing the young, capable population towards tobacco production, where they will see not only an opportunity for existence but also space for development, expansion and certainly profit.