CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON VITICULTURE IN POVARDARIE REGION OF MACEDONIA – ASSESMENT AND ADAPTATION

The purpose of the simulations was to determine the effects on grape production of applying different amounts of irrigation water and different reductions in temperatures over a period of 50 years (2000 – 2050), as compared to not implementing any adaptation measures over the same period. From the simulations involving irrigation, it can be concluded that irrigation is necessary in intensive viticulture for maintaining plants for a long period as better as possible and for improving quality with a satisfactory yield. Without irrigation, vines face the threat of extinction. Comparing the simulations involving UV nets to those without UV nets, the conclusion is that the use of UV nets (which will cause a decrease in temperature of 2 0C), has a positive effect on the yields of both table grapes and wine grapes. Decreasing the temperature by 5 0C carries the risk of delaying the start of the ripening of the grapes, delaying harvesting and reducing yields.