Bosnian Corn Farmers Face Ruin as Heatwaves and Drought Wither Fields

Across northeastern Bosnia, vast stretches of corn fields lie yellowed and brittle under a relentless summer sun. Farmers in the region are confronting a harsh reality: this year's harvest has been decimated by a combination of severe heatwaves and an unyielding drought.

The most recent heatwave, which pushed temperatures to nearly 40 degrees Celsius across the Balkans, has delivered a final, crushing blow to the crops. For grain farmer Slavisa Lukic, the situation is dire. Standing amidst the withered stalks, he estimates that this year's corn yield will be a meager 1.5 to 2 tons per hectare, if it can be harvested at all. He recalls a time when the same land produced a bountiful 6 to 7 tons per hectare, a period he now believes is gone forever.

The devastation extends beyond corn. Lukic points to nearby clover fields, once a source of excellent fodder, which have now been reduced to nothing by the drought. The impact of this agricultural disaster is significant, as corn is the country's largest crop, with the agricultural sector contributing roughly 5% to Bosnia's annual GDP and employing about 10% of its workforce.

Agronomist Dr. Dragan Zaric says the crisis demands a change in farming practices. He advises that to mitigate the effects of drought, farmers must adopt drought-tolerant corn hybrids and improve their agricultural techniques, from soil processing and fertilization to harvesting. Crucially, he highlights the importance of irrigation, noting that not all farmers have access to such infrastructure.

With Europe warming at a faster rate than other continents, the pressure on farmers to adapt is mounting. For now, Lukic faces a difficult choice: significantly scale back his corn production or, in the worst-case scenario, abandon it altogether due to the persistent high temperatures.