Farmers in Bosnia's Republika Srpska entity demand natural disaster declaration amid severe drought

Described as one of the most challenging years for local agriculture, farmers face a combination of extreme weather, delayed subsidies, low purchase prices, and soaring production costs. Fuel prices have approached 4 Bosnian marks (approximately €2) per liter, severely straining farm budgets alongside expensive seed wheat and fertilizers.

Savo Bakajlic, President of the Farmers' Association "Sela Semberije i Majevice," warned that producers can no longer finance operations independently. Following meetings with farmers in Bijeljina, Lopara, and Ugljevik, the association submitted requests to the Government of Republika Srpska, seeking additional subsidized fuel and an increase in wheat subsidies from 500 marks (approx. €256) to 700 KM (approx. €358) per hectare. While wheat yields were satisfactory earlier this year, drought reduced corn yields by 70 to 90 percent on certain plots.

Vegetable growers report similar devastation. Darko Ilic, President of the Vegetable Growers' Association of Republika Srpska, highlighted severe potato rot caused by prolonged high soil temperatures followed by rain, resulting in crop losses of up to 70 percent on affected fields. The resulting shortage has driven up market prices, though low harvest volumes leave farmers without financial relief.

With barley planting set to begin in two weeks and wheat sowing by month's end, young farmer Branko Rikic noted that high input costs coupled with low market selling prices, around 30 marks (approx. €15) per unit, threaten the economic viability of farming. Stojan Marinkovic, President of the Alliance of Agricultural Producers' Associations, added that farmers face an increasingly costly season requiring tight financial calculations to survive.