THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TQM AND ORGANIC PRODUCTION: OPPORTUNITY FOR ASSOCIATIONS OF PRODUCERS OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

Organic agricultural production in the Republic of Macedonia is recognized as an approach to sustainable development, which at the same time gives a good quality and safe products. Due to the excellent conditions for its development, it has intense growth in the country. Producers are united by a very important denominator that is certifying the method and procedure of producing organic products so the quality of the product is indisputable. Nevertheless, they are facing problems, such as insufficient quantity for sale and poor market organization. In their struggle to overcome these challenges, Macedonian producers of organic products have established many associations. On the contrary, total quality management (TQM) have proven very valuable to companies and organizations as an integrative approach anchored in the belief that long-term success depends on a unique/single commitment to quality in all departments of an organization. Therefore, this paper attempts to explore the possibility to relate TQM to organic agriculture in order to show a new approach to management whose base is the multidimensionality of the quality and its operation and function in all spheres of work in the associations of organic farmers in Republic of Macedonia.