Municipality of Novaci

Novaci exists because Pelagonia's agricultural potential demanded settlement across the valley's southern reaches. This municipality of 2,648 residents occupies 753 square kilometers—North Macedonia's fifth-largest in arable land with 22,905 hectares of cultivation, 28,952 hectares of pasture, and 17,000 hectares of forest. The 41 villages (34 flatland, 7 mountainous) span from valley floor at 580 meters to the Mariovo highlands.

The formation era established tobacco cultivation that remains economic cornerstone, alongside grains (wheat, barley, rye, corn), specialty crops (poppy, hops, soybeans, sugar beet, sunflower), and extensive livestock on 30,000 hectares of pasture. The Mariovo bee produces high-quality honey; the Crna, Gradešska, and Bela rivers support fishing; fruit orchards maintain apples, pears, walnuts, and forest berries.

Today Novaci hosts critical national infrastructure: REK Bitola (power generation) and the Suvodol lignite deposit with geological reserves of 195 million tons—the country's largest coal pool. Residents work in farming, livestock breeding, and industrial employment at REK, Macedonian Woods, and the Pelagonija agricultural combine. The climate combines continental temperatures with Mediterranean rainfall patterns, while Mariovo's mountains support distinct ecosystems. The Pelagonia region produces 20.7% of national agricultural output, with 97% land utilization.

By 2026, Novaci navigates the energy transition: lignite reserves remain economically significant but environmentally problematic as EU accession requires emissions reduction. The agricultural base provides diversification potential, though the tiny population limits development capacity. The proximity to Bitola (11 km) offers market access while the industrial employment base exceeds typical rural municipalities.