In recent years, climate anomalies have been sweeping across Europe with unprecedented frequency and intensity, profoundly impacting traditional agricultural structures. Serbia, a major fruit-growing country on the Balkan Peninsula, has become a prime example of this trend.
Serbia is one of the world’s major plum producers, with plum plantations accounting for approximately 40% of all orchard area. According to data from the Plant Production and Food Industry Association of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Serbia’s plum planting area reached 733.33 square kilometers in 2024, primarily in the central and southern regions of the country, producing approximately 387,200 tons. In recent years, Serbia’s plum industry has continued to grow and develop, with both cultivated area and production showing annual growth.
Balkan Orchards: Cold and Heat Struggle
The plum harvest season in Serbia typically runs from mid-August to early September, but a recent visit to a local orchard revealed that only a small number of fruits were bearing trees this year.
Milutin, a fruit farmer in the Belgrade suburbs, owns a 40,000 square meters orchard planted with approximately 5,000 plum and apricot trees. Under normal circumstances, the orchard yields up to 50 tons of fruit annually. This year, however, production has plummeted significantly.
Milutin described the sparse harvest: “There’s nothing on the trees this year. In a good year, a single branch might bear 30 to 50 fruits, bending low under the weight. It was difficult to walk between the two rows of trees.” This year’s total yield is only 150 kg. Last year he could hire workers for harvesting, but this year that’s impossible. Given the meager output, they plan to make juice and jam at home for their own consumption.
He analyzed that the primary causes of the plum crop failure were the low temperatures and frost in spring, coupled with the high temperatures and drought in summer. In April, local temperatures dropped below freezing to -3 to -4 degrees Celsius twice in succession, preventing the trees from pollinating and setting fruit.
Serbian agricultural expert Goran Đaković previously stated in a media interview that due to late spring frosts and extremely low temperatures in late April, Serbia’s stone fruit production—including plums, apricots, and peaches—could decline by 30% to 90% this year, with some regions experiencing losses as high as 100%.
Since the beginning of summer, several heatwaves have severely damaged Serbia’s plum crops, further impacting production. According to data released by the European Drought Observatory (EDO), from July 11 to 19 this year, over half of the soil across Europe and the Mediterranean region was affected by drought, with Eastern Europe and the Balkans being particularly affected. In Serbia, nearly all soil (99%) is experiencing water shortages, with a drought alert rate as high as 68%.
Regarding the specific impact of extreme weather on Serbia’s plum production, a reporter consulted the Plant Production and Food Industry Association of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The association stated that since the plum harvest season is not yet complete, no official data for this year is currently available. However, unofficial figures indicate that Serbia’s 2025 plum harvest faces a severe threat. In some production areas of Toplika Province in southern Serbia, many plum trees have failed to bear fruit at all.
Climate Change: EU Agriculture’s Shift and Challenge
Agriculture is one of the industries most directly impacted by climate change. Facing the challenges posed by climate change, European countries urgently need to shift their approach to agricultural development. Serbia, for example, is accelerating the modernization of its orchards, introducing high-density planting, stress-resistant varieties, and intelligent irrigation systems to enhance resilience. Traditional plum orchards typically plant around 400 trees per hectare, yielding an average of just 3.3 tons. In contrast, modern orchards can accommodate 800 to 1,200 trees per hectare, boosting yields to over 14 tons.
However, upgrading infrastructure, renewing technology, and transforming cultivation concepts cannot be achieved overnight. They require policy guidance and financial support. Against the backdrop of irreversible global climate change, building a more resilient and sustainable agricultural system has become a common challenge for governments and agricultural practitioners worldwide.
The days of relying on the weather for food are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Extreme weather events bring not only reduced yields and losses but also challenge traditional agricultural models, presenting an opportunity for transformation. From farmers to governments, only through proactive planning and scientific responses can we safeguard agricultural production, protect livelihoods, and lay a solid foundation for cultural heritage and industrial development.
