NOVIĆ FAMILY PROVES THAT VILLAGE LIFE CAN OFFER FREEDOM AND A FUTURE

The village of Gornji Smrtići near Prnjavor is home to the Nović family, a living example that rural life can provide healthy food, true freedom, and a better lifestyle than life on concrete or in city parks.

PHOTO: Slobodan Živanić / Agroklub

Their household is the starting point for the rural development project "Village of Republika Srpska – My Place to Live", initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republika Srpska. The goal of the project is to support young agricultural producers in enhancing tourism potential on their family farms.

The project is also supported by the Agricultural Cluster “Gradiška Laktaši Srbac”.

The Nović family’s brand, Motajički Medenko, has been present on the market for over a decade—ever since they harvested their first hazelnuts.

“Our farm offers hazelnuts in various flavors – salty, sweet, chocolate. We also produce milk, whey, eggs, and we grow peppers and tomatoes in our greenhouses,” says Ljubiša Nović, the head of the household, who previously worked in Germany and Slovenia, but insists that "there's no place like home."

Today, the Nović family grows around 1,800 hazelnut trees and offers a range of flavored products. They have presented their goods at more than 200 fairs.

“We had some hail in May that slightly damaged the hazelnuts, but I believe the harvest will be better than last year. There’s a lot of work during the season — my wife and I handle most of it, and we get help from my sisters, brothers-in-law, and in-laws. It’s mostly a family effort,” Nović explained.

Their goal is to expand production and develop agro-tourism.

They continue to receive support from the “Gradiška Laktaši Srbac” cluster and the Ministry, with the joint goal of promoting rural life and encouraging young people to stay, work, and invest in agriculture.

The Nović household is led by young, ambitious individuals who are committed to both farming and hospitality, and who are ready to invest their own money into their future.

“They produce high-quality, recognizable hazelnut products. Our goal is to encourage more people to visit farms like theirs, to buy local products, and to experience everything the countryside offers — nature, traditional food, and more,” said Bojan Ćikić, manager of the GLS agricultural cluster. He emphasized that this is the first completed mini project of a household under the program, which included the installation of a small shelter and the beginning of organized product promotion.

As part of the project, children from the preschool institution “Pčelica” in Prnjavor visited the Nović farm. It was an opportunity for the kids to learn outside the classroom.

“Visiting the village and the household was especially exciting for the children. It allowed us to practically demonstrate what they learn in preschool and to spend the day outdoors,” said preschool educator Ljubica Božunović.