MULTI-PURPOSE EVALUATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

UDK 631.4(497.6) Multi-purpose land evaluation is a method of assessing the quality and value of the land in the service planning and land management, and is the fundamental basis for the development and optimum use of land in general. The subject of the study was evaluation of multi-purpose suitability of land for agricultural use was made according to the Regulations on the uniform methodology for the classification of agricultural land in the class (Official Gazette of the Federation of B&H, No. 43/11), using FAO assessment methodology (FAO, 1976; Brinkman and Smyth, 1973). Based on the results of research was created a database and map of suitability of agricultural land for growing different plants in agriculture vegetable (gardening); arable farming (annual crops); fruits (fruits growing); wine-growing (viticulture) and grassland (pastures and meadows). It was determined the priority of agricultural use as well as dedicated map (1:200 000), which shows the distribution of 36 recommended agricultural and economic programs in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was found that the largest area of 429,685.4 ha or 40.45% of agricultural land in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is suitable for agricultural economic program of grassland. Follow the other agricultural economic programs: fruits-grassland 123,996.4 ha or 11.67%; then fruits-vegetable-annual crops with an area of 89,384.7 ha (8.41%) and grassland-fruits-vegetable occupying 66.562 ha or 6,26% and grassland-vegetable-annual crops with an area 62,136.3 ha (5.85%). Other agricultural economic programs individually occupy an area of less than 4% of land. We believe that the information obtained through this project contribute to the overall development of agriculture in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in terms of creating a proper and balanced concept as part of sustainable land management and reasonable land use policy.