Agricultural land in Serbia has become a luxury commodity, with prices in Vojvodina surpassing €10,000 per jutro (0.5755 hectares). However, few farmers engage in these purchases, as most land is acquired by investors seeking profitable opportunities.
Farmers in Serbia face numerous long-standing challenges. Beyond weather conditions and poor yields, they contend with government requirements and subsidies, leaving little room for expansion of production.
Some of the highest land prices in recent years were recorded in the municipality of Ruma, where a 5.6-hectare plot sold for €1 million, according to the Republic Geodetic Authority. While this is an exceptional case, farmers estimate the realistic price per jutro to be between €6,000 and €8,000, though actual prices often exceed €10,000 depending on location.
Goran Filipović, president of the Initiative for the Survival of Serbian Farmers, notes that only about 10% of agricultural land sold over the past year and a half was purchased by farmers. “The other 90% are buyers who do not work in agriculture and invest solely to acquire property,” he explains. Land prices have mostly stagnated, with slight fluctuations, ranging between €8,000 and €12,000 per jutro depending on quality and location.
Filipović also highlights financial pressures on farmers, including loans. Many seek deferment or refinancing as banks are increasingly hesitant to provide credit, making agriculture less attractive as a profession.
Jovica Jakšić from the Independent Association of Serbian Farmers adds that in recent years, farmers often cannot afford to buy land. Investors purchase land and lease it back, but demand for leases has also declined. Lease prices have dropped by 20–30% depending on the region, with prime land renting for around €550 per hectare, and purchase prices once reaching €20,000 per hectare now dropping to a maximum of €15,000.
Miroslav Matković, president of the Subotica Farmers’ Association, notes that few can afford long-term leases, though some exceptions occur. In one recent church land auction, a lease was paid five years in advance at €630 per hectare. Matković explains that current market prices for agricultural land range from €6,000 to €8,000 per jutro, with some asking up to €10,000, depending on plot size, location, and neighboring owners.
Overall, farmers struggle with high land costs, limited access to credit, and declining lease values, leaving investment largely to wealthy outsiders rather than local agricultural producers.
