When rains don’t come

05/03/2026

Kraljevo, Serbia – “Everyone in my family is involved in agriculture. It is the main pillar of our lives. We could do without many things, but not without food and water.”

With these words, 19-year-old Đorđe Mićević describes both his upbringing and his future. A former student of the Dr. Đorđe Radić Agricultural and Chemical School in Kraljevo, Đorđe is part of a new generation of young people in Serbia who are learning how to adapt agriculture to climate change.

For Đorđe, climate change is not an abstract concept discussed only in classrooms or policy documents. It is something visible in the fields.

“In summer, there’s often little or no rain for a month or even two,” he explains. “Plants don’t receive enough water; they struggle, and that leads to crop loss and food shortages.”

Across Europe and Central Asia, farmers are increasingly facing more frequent droughts, erratic rainfall and extreme weather events. For rural communities that depend on agriculture for both livelihoods and food security, building resilience is essential.

Learning to adapt through science and practice

Through the European Union-funded project Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Agriculture, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a new subject – climate change in agriculture – was introduced at Đorđe’s school.

The course provided students with practical skills, including how to analyse weather-related data at the local level and use this information in a timely and informed way across crop farming, vegetable production, fruit growing and livestock systems.

Although the school was already well equipped with agricultural machinery, the project further strengthened its practical training capacities. Using equipment provided through FAO and funded by the European Union, students gained hands-on experience with such devices as a subsoiler, an underground irrigation installer and a lime spreader.

For Đorđe, this practical exposure was transformative.

Among the practices students learned are subsoiling, to improve water movement in the soil, and liming, to increase soil pH and enhance fertility via the introduction of calcium carbonate.

Another innovative solution explored through the project was the installation of solar panels, which generated renewable energy while also providing shade for crops and grazing livestock.

These approaches reflect a broader shift in soil cultivation and fertilization methods aimed at protecting soil health, preserving the environment and maintaining farm profitability.

By integrating scientific knowledge with practical application, agricultural schools are becoming hubs for climate-smart innovation, equipping students with tools that can be applied immediately on family farms and in rural communities.

Investing in the next generation

Today, Đorđe continues his studies at the Faculty of Agronomy in Čačak, specializing in fruit growing and viticulture. Yet his ambition remains rooted in the countryside.

“I will continue to work in agriculture in the future and direct all the knowledge I gain from this school and from university towards improving agriculture and life in rural areas,” he says.

With support from the European Union, FAO is helping rural communities in Serbia adopt practices that strengthen resilience and improve farm management.

As climate challenges intensify across Europe and Central Asia, it is students like Đorđe who will carry forward the knowledge, innovation and determination needed to ensure that agriculture continues to provide what no family can do without: food and water.