Authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republic of Srpska are preparing tighter restrictions on photovoltaic developments on agricultural land. The rapid expansion of solar power has contributed to the conversion of thousands of hectares of farmland. The entity’s agriculture ministry reported that 3,064 hectares were reclassified between 2022 and 2024, with solar projects accounting for more than 60% of the affected area.
The area reclassified rose from 588 hectares in 2022 to 1,141 hectares in 2023. It increased again to 1,335 hectares in 2024.
Government considers stronger land protections
Agriculture Minister Andjelka Kuzmic has called for stronger safeguards for productive land. She argued that renewable energy development should not come at the expense of food production. The government plans to amend legislation, introduce additional restrictions and review land-use decisions already approved.
The authority given to municipalities is another concern. Under current rules, solar installations of up to 150 kW can obtain local permits without approval from the entity-level ministry. This makes it harder to monitor the cumulative effect on agricultural land.
Agricultural groups favor lower-quality land
Agricultural organisations support directing new photovoltaic projects to lower-quality land. Producers have warned that solar plants on fertile farmland can take the land out of agricultural use for 25-30 years. They have also cautioned that restoring the land after projects are decommissioned could involve significant costs.
