Farming in a place without water
© Vesna Anđic
10/03/2026
Sušica, a village 12 km from the city of Valjevo, means “a place without water”. For farmers here, the name reflects everyday reality. On the slopes of Mount Povlen, summers are becoming hotter, rainfall less predictable and water increasingly scarce — reshaping how food is produced and how farms survive.
For Radoje Marić and his family, fruit growing is both a livelihood and a longstanding tradition. As fourth-generation producers of fruit and certified raspberry seedlings, the Marić family cultivates orchards at 500–600 m above sea level, where generations before them learned to work the land. But in recent years, changing weather patterns have made production increasingly uncertain.
Raspberries are highly sensitive to heat and water stress. Rising temperatures and prolonged dry periods are affecting both yields and fruit quality, altering the delicate balance needed for successful production.
“The sun is increasingly intense, with summer temperatures often exceeding 40 or even 45 degrees Celsius, which is devastating for raspberries,” explains Mladen Marić, Radoje’s father. “Evaporation is high, water losses are significant, fruit quality declines, the berries are lighter, and yields are lower.”
During extreme heat, berries ripen too quickly and lose weight, reducing their quality and market value. For the Marić family, these changes directly affect their harvest and income. To cope with growing climate pressures, they began looking for practical ways to adapt.
Learning to manage climate risks
Radoje Marić participated in training sessions organized by the Valjevo Advisory Service under the European Union-funded project Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Agriculture, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The trainings introduced practical approaches to climate risk management, improved production practices and more sustainable use of natural resources — knowledge that farmers can apply directly in their fields.
“We attended several trainings and observed the implementation of projects that are very relevant to our production,” Radoje says. “We gained knowledge that enables higher production, better product quality and a more reliable supply of agricultural products to the market.”
Armed with new knowledge, the family began changing how they manage water, energy and cultivation practices. © Vesna Anđic
A farm adapting to change
Securing water has become the family’s top priority. About ten years ago, they built a reservoir on their plantations, transforming how the farm copes with dry summers. The stored water allows them to irrigate crops and apply water-soluble fertilizers that improve both fruit quality and yields.
Following technical advice received through the project, they are now preparing to introduce underground, or drip, irrigation. To support this system, they constructed facilities to collect rainwater, helping ensure a more reliable supply during long dry periods.
The family also has upgraded its irrigation system by installing solar-powered pumps. By reducing reliance on fuel, the system improves efficiency, lowers production costs and enables more reliable irrigation when temperatures are high and water demand peaks.
Together, these changes help the farm use water more efficiently while supporting more sustainable agricultural practices.
Tradition meets innovation
Improved water management also has supported another major step – the transition to organic production. Since 2024, Radoje has been converting the family’s orchards from conventional to organic farming, moving away from synthetic pesticides and relying more on improved irrigation and cultivation practices.
“We have realized that very good results can be achieved even without such pesticides,” Radoje explains. “That is one more reason to invest in irrigation, so that we can maximize production and quality without using chemical products that are not allowed.”
For the Marić family, adapting to climate change is not only about responding to immediate challenges but also about preserving their way of life and ensuring the future of the farm. © Vesna Anđic
“What motivates us to continue this work is a sense of tradition and the desire to ensure that my children and future generations have the opportunity to continue and improve it and to live more comfortably on our farm,” Radoje says. “Because this is a beautiful job.”
Farming in a place without water demands constant adaptation. In Sušica – a village defined by scarcity – investments in knowledge, improved water management and sustainable practices are helping the Marić family and others like them keep their orchards productive and carry their farming tradition into an increasingly uncertain future.