The provincial Government claims that it is preventing the desertification of the area by investing into the regional hydrologic system.
Farmers in Serbia have been forced to start their sunflower and corn harvests much earlier than usual due to a severe drought.
This is the third year in a row that the region has been hit by such conditions and the impact on the yield is huge, with corn output expected to be three times lower than the usual this year.
Tomica Vojnić from Tavankut paints a bleak picture. “You see, there are a lot of bare ones,” he says, pointing to the corn stalks. “Many of them don’t have an ear at all, or it’s this small.” Drought hasn’t only stunted the growth but also brought pests that further damage the already scarce crops.
The water crisis is another problem on top of farmers’ heads. Many residents have their own wells but they are dry. “There is no water in our wells,” Vojnić says. “Our crops depend on God’s mercy to send water from the sky.” With irrigation impossible, some farmers are forced to sell parts of their machinery or even their land to pay off loans and leases.
As the drought continues to ravage, Nataša Kovačev from Euronews Serbia says: “Farmers didn’t meet their expectations due to the drought.”
Miroslav Matković from Subotica Farmers’ Association agrees and demands immediate government intervention. “If the state doesn’t do something, we will all be in trouble,” he says. Despite two years of requests to Subotica municipality to declare a natural disaster due to drought, there was no response. “We stood on the street for ten days,” Matković says, pointing to the farmers’ frustration and desperation.
Drought not only affects the agricultural production but also politics. While farmers demand more support and action, provincial government claims it’s doing its part to prevent desertification by investing in the regional hydrological system.
As Serbia grapples with this environmental and economic crisis, the call for a more robust response grows louder. Whether through emergency declarations, financial aid, or infrastructure investment, it is clear that without significant intervention, the livelihoods of many Serbian farmers will be lost.
