Osmaci is a municipality in the eastern part of Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The seat of the municipality is located in Osmaci.

Geographical position

The municipality of Osmaci is located in the eastern part of the Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The area of the municipality covers 78.10 km2, and belongs to the region known as Srednje Podrinje or the Birač region. Osmaci is one of the smallest municipalities in Republika Srpska, both in terms of geographical size and number of inhabitants.

The municipality itself borders the municipalities of Zvornik and Šekovići in the Republika Srpska and Kalesija in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The territory of the municipality of Osmaci is functionally connected with the neighboring towns and regions.

In the east - west direction, the longest distance between the borders of the municipality is about 14 km, and in the north - south direction, the territory of the municipality extends in the length of 4-8 km.

The geographical position of the municipality of Osmaci is one of the most important factors in its social-economic development. Key functions and influence of the geographical position on the present and future development of the municipality can be recognized through: its position in relation to major geographical regions, areas where significant natural resources are located (the so-called Tuzla basin), municipal position towards the main road Zvornik-Tuzla, developed economic regions and major cohesive economic centers.

The Birač region is located near agricultural regions such as Semberija and Mačva (Serbia), and important industrial centers such as Tuzla, Zvornik, Brčko District of BiH and others.

Climate

Climate, together with natural resources, is the determining element in the choice of production whether it is agriculture or any other economic activity. Geographical position and relief determined the basic climatic characteristics of the area.

The area of the municipality, as a whole, is located in the zone of moderate continental climate, with accentuated annual variations in temperature and precipitation. The important characteristics of this climate are as follows: summers are warm, while winters are mostly cold, autumn is slightly warmer than spring, while the transition from winter to spring is very fast at the beginning, and then the temperature rise is uniform.

Natural Resources

Natural resources have a special place in the structure of general conditions of development. Their impact is multi-fold in the process of production and development and is reflected primarily in the fact that as a basis for development they can directly influence the choice of production orientation of a given area. In addition, a significant wealth of certain natural resources can play an important role in generating capital for accelerated economic development. The area of the municipality of Osmaci has a variety of natural resources that are more important in terms of quantity vs. quality. However, existing resources, exploited rationally and efficiently can be foundation for the future municipal development.

History

The municipality of Osmaci is one of the youngest municipalities in the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The municipality of Osmaci, with its current administrative capacity and jurisdictions, was formed in 1992 as a part of the pre-war municipality of Kalesija.

Osmaci was first mentioned as a settlement at the beginning of the 18th century, more precisely in 1717, as a place where the battles between the Austrian and Turkish armies were fought during the Vienna War.

According to the census from 1885, the following settlements belonged to the municipality of Osmak: Osmak, Kakanj, Mramorak and Podborogovo (part of the settlement).

According to the first Austrian census from 1879, the place Osmaci was first mentioned as Osmak, as a part of the municipality of Osmak, Vlasenica district.

During 1953, the seat of the People's Committee (local communist party board) of the municipality of Osmaci was in the area of Osmaci. As of 1955, Osmaci becomes part of the municipality of Memići. In the period of time 1958 -1992. Osmaci was an integral part of the municipality of Kalesija.

Demography

According to the 1991 census, the municipality of Osmaci had 7,039 inhabitants.

The number of inhabitants in the municipality of Osmaci according to the last internal municipal census from 2001 was 4,646 inhabitants. Together with population of displaced persons, that number came up to 5,258 inhabitants. According to the same census, there were 1,385 households in the municipality, out of which 187 are displaced households that settled in the municipality of Osmaci in the previous period. The average household size according to the census is 3, 79 members.

The 2001 census was internal and conducted by the municipality. Knowing that, the census was characterized as insufficient, incomplete, and methodologically unsupported. In the period 1992-1995 there was a massive depopulation of the areas because of war and destruction. In the mentioned period, there was a population decline in almost all settlements, which is primarily the result of the departure of the Bosniak population from the territory of the municipality of Osmaci.

According to internal estimates, the number of inhabitants in the municipality of Osmaci in 2009 was 5,242 inhabitants. According to the data of the Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics, 3,579 voters were registered in the local elections in 2008, which may indirectly indicate the total population in the municipality of Osmaci, ie. the segment of the population older than 18 years. However, these data should also be taken with caution because a number of residents of the municipality of Osmaci, mostly Bosniaks, due to more favorable exercise of certain personal rights - veterans' rights, social protection rights, health care, agricultural incentives, etc., have personal documents issued in the neighboring municipality of Kalesija (FiBH) and therefore do not enter the above number.

As a conclusion, according to estimates, we can say that there was a decrease in population compared to 1991. The reasons for that is in fact that despite the organized return to the municipality of Osmaci, a number of pre-war population decided to permanently settle in other municipalities, mostly in other entity - Federation of BiH, but also in some other towns in Republika Srpska.

Economy and agriculture