Land Allocation Research Articles

Preserving large blocks of primary forest is critical to conserve forest‐dependent bird species in the Amazon

AbstractResearch Highlight: Birch, B. D. J., Mills, S. C., Socolar, J. B., Martínez‐Revelo, D. E., Haugaasen, T., & Edwards, D. P. (2024). Land sparing outperforms land sharing for Amazonian bird communities regardless of surrounding landscape context. Journal of Applied Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2664.14596.Tropical forests are globally threatened by agricultural activities, including cattle farming. The land sharing versus land sparing debate has often been used as a means of addressing the trade‐off between agricultural production and biodiversity conservation, without finding a consensus within the scientific community. Moving forward, recent studies suggest combining both land allocation strategies, where wildlife‐friendly habitats within farmlands could allow movements of species within the agricultural matrix and connect natural habitats such as forest blocks, though this has rarely been demonstrated with empirical studies. In their study, Birch et al. tested how wildlife‐friendly habitats within and around cattle pastures could rescue the negative effects of converting forest to farmland on Amazon bird communities. To do so, they modelled bird species occupancies and simulated different land sharing versus land sparing scenarios with varying amount of landscape‐scale wildlife‐friendly habitat and levels of production. They found that the land sparing strategy outperformed land sharing in all scenarios, with limited benefits of landscape‐scale wildlife‐friendly habitat. This result was mostly driven by forest‐dependent species that cannot persist in farmlands. As these species are highly sensitive, preserving large blocks of primary forest is critical for their conservation.

Ensemble intelligence algorithms and soil environmental quality to model economic quantity of land resource allocation and spatial inequality

With the increasing concern on soil pollution in context of land market reform, it’s an emerging topic to discuss whether soil pollution can cause land economic value substantially depreciated at geospatial scale. This study proposed a data science approach by synthesizing machine learning and deep learning algorithms to establish the land economic equivalent model (LEEM) with best prediction ability. The results indicated that Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) and Random Forest (RF) performed well in estimating residential/commercial and industrial land value, respectively. Spatial variation of soil environment quality indeed largely affected economic productivity of residential/commercial land with contribution of 13.82%. For industrial land, population density was strongly related to the land price (11.77%), of which importance score was much higher than other 10 variables except distance to center business district (CBD, 28.75%) and transaction time (28.61%). Another important finding was that soil protection measures could generate extra benefits equivalent with a mean of 22.46% and 28.92% for residential/commercial and industrial land value in current status, respectively, and high-value areas could also be predicted for effective decisions on land allocation and trading. In terms of sustainable land management, the regression tree-based LEEM is an effective tool in assisting decision makers with urban land reclamation, planning and pricing.

Optimal land allocation and irrigation scheduling to maximize the economic utility

Optimal land allocation and irrigation scheduling to maximize the economic utility

Study on the future development prospects of biomass energy in towns, townships, and subdistricts under multi-scenarios —A case study of Harbin City

Biomass energy is the most likely new energy source to replace fossil fuels. This study presents a prediction method for biomass energy supply-demand and changes in supply-demand patterns that connects the past and future. In the study, carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are taken as the time base. The FLUS model is used to simulate future land allocation in four basic scenarios: natural development scenario, agricultural development scenario, low-carbon development scenario and industrial development scenario; and townships, towns, and subdistricts are taken as the basic statistical unit. Based on this, we have examined the suitability of future development of biomass energy in rural and urban areas in each scenario, as well as its contribution to the future energy system transformation that substitutes for fossil energy. This method has been applied to the case study of townships, towns, and subdistricts in Harbin City in China. The study results show that: The degrees to which biomass energy potential can substitute for fossil energy in the four scenarios in 2030 reach 4.21%, 5.62%, 5.47%, and 3.82%, respectively. Under agricultural development scenario, the supply-demand balance areas account for 48.94%, meaning this scenario has the largest potential for energy development and transition; low-carbon development scenario sees the highest degree of spatial supply-demand match, and thus enjoys the most advantages in energy transportation. The degrees to which biomass energy potential can substitute for fossil energy under the four scenarios in 2060 reach 2.01%, 6.96%, 5.35%, and 1.26% respectively. Agricultural development scenario still has the largest development potential, with the proportion of supply-demand balance areas jumping to 50.46%; Finally, low supply-high demand mismatch clusters are mainly concentrated in the main urban area and the central areas of townships, towns, and subdistricts. The high supply-low demand mismatch clusters are mainly distributed in the northeast. Under low-carbon development scenario, the low supply-high demand mismatch ratio has been reduced to 0.92%, the lowest supply-demand mismatch among all scenarios. Therefore, low-carbon development scenario enjoys the most spatial match advantages. This study will serve as an assessment method to advance the spatial development of biomass, and provide a geospatial basis for optimizing the layout of future energy development. Compared with previous studies, it has more spatial attributes, better reflects the complexity of biomass energy changes and is more connected with the measurement results and future policy making. In future research, we will combine multiple types of clean energy into the comparison and combined use to form a more comprehensive and specific research framework for new energy conversion. Longer-term macro-planning will go beyond the application boundaries of this research.

Categorizing land: an account of leftover land in Patna

This paper is an account of Bihar State Housing Board (BSHB) and its role in allocating housing and land from the 1970s onwards in Patna. The housing board typifies the bureaucratic practices of property-making at its best and demonstrates how the bureaucracy strategically aligned itself with caste-driven state politics. The unstable nature of forward–backward caste-based partisan politics meant politicians made unceasing efforts to garner support to stay in power including that of the bureaucrats who had far more control and knowledge about administration rules. By creating the discretionary category of chit-put land, loosely translated as leftover or not useful for anyone, an elaborate rationale was created for land allocation. This flexibility was used for carving out new land parcels for the high-income and middle-income category in Patna. The board dexterously encroached on the land allocated for the urban poor in whose name the land acquisition was undertaken at the outset. Using minutes of the meetings of BSHB, the paper also argues for alternative approaches for drafting and mapping the spatial history of a non-metropolitan city without a master plan and maps.

MOVEMENT TO COASTAL TOWNS IN TURKEY: Urban Rescaling, Local Deregulation and New Prospects for the Predatory Construction Sector

AbstractIn Turkey, as in many Mediterranean countries, the Covid‐19 pandemic enhanced the mobility of the country's affluent classes to coastal towns. Many decided to settle there permanently, either by making their second homes their main residences, or by purchasing or renting new property. This has created severe social, infrastructural and environmental problems in these towns because of transformed demographics, a largely unregulated construction boom, increased renovation activities and an unprecedented rise in real‐estate and consumer‐goods prices. In this article we contextualize these problems in relation to the Justice and Development Party's neoliberal policies of urban governance and rescaling in the past 15 years. The government, having given the construction sector the main role in Turkey's economic development, subsequently granted it new spatial opportunities through the authoritarian and centralized allocation of urban and rural land. Coastal towns have been the target of unregulated urban growth and predatory construction in this process and have thus provided new spatial development prospects. Local governmental reform in 2012, which introduced radical urban rescaling and weakened district municipalities’ planning and regulation capacities, further intensified the process. These factors have had a severe impact on coastal towns and their middle‐income residents, who face new mobility pressures.

EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF INDUSTRIAL ESTATES IN ASSAM: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS USING THE IPRS FRAMEWORK

This paper evaluates the performance of 11 industrial infrastructural establishments in the Kamrup and Kamrup Metro districts of Assam, using the Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) framework. The study focuses on four key pillars: internal infrastructure and utilities, external infrastructure and connectivity, business support services, and environment and safety management. Primary data was collected through structured questionnaires administered to MSME owners and managers, while secondary data was gathered from government reports and industrial policies. The findings reveal that while the basic infrastructure—such as uninterrupted power supply, piped water, and street lighting—is robust, significant gaps remain in advanced utilities, such as sewage treatment plants and renewable energy systems. Furthermore, inadequate business support services, including the absence of skill development centers and online land allotment systems, create operational challenges for MSMEs. Environmental and safety measures, such as disaster management protocols and rest areas for women workers, are also lacking. These deficiencies impact the overall efficiency and sustainability of the industrial estates. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing both infrastructural quality and support services to foster a more competitive and sustainable industrial environment in Assam, thereby boosting MSME growth and economic development in the region.

Estimating Yield Response Functions to Nitrogen for Annual Crops in Iran

Nitrate is a crucial element for crop growth, and its optimal application is essential for maximizing agricultural yield. In Iranian agriculture, there is a substantial gap between recommended nitrate usage and what farmers actually apply. In this study, our primary objective is to determine the most effective utilization of nitrate for crop cultivation. Simultaneously, we aim to analyze the factors that contribute to the disparity between optimal and current nitrate application practices. Furthermore, our research explores the impact of these differences on regional variations in crop yields. This is achieved using a quadratic yield response function model based on unbalanced panel data spanning the years 2000 to 2016, which includes a total of 14 crop activities and encompasses 31 administrative regions. The results show that rice exhibits the highest nitrogen usage, while rain-fed wheat demonstrates the lowest utilization at the optimal point. Depending on whether random- or fixed-effects estimation is found to be the most suitable specification, average yields corresponding to the optimal level of nitrogen use are calculated by region, or the average across all regions. In Iran, the top-performing regions for cereals like rain-fed wheat and irrigated barley can achieve yields of 1.33 and 3 t/ha, respectively. These yields represent a 31% and a 9% increase from the levels observed in 2016. The outcomes derived from the estimated yield response function will be integrated into comprehensive agricultural, economic, and environmental optimization models. These integrated models will facilitate the assessment of various fertilizer policies on fertilizer use, land allocation, farm-household incomes, and environmental externalities, such as nitrate leaching and nitrate balance. This study holds substantial scientific promise, given its exploration of the policy implications surrounding fertilizer usage, making it crucial not only for Iran, but also for many developing nations grappling with inefficient and unsustainable agricultural practices. It represents the first of its kind in the literature, providing estimations of optimal nitrogen use and crop yield points across all regions in Iran. This is achieved through advanced visualization using GIS maps.

The impact of industry-favoring land allocation strategy on urban carbon emissions: a city-level empirical study in China

The impact of industry-favoring land allocation strategy on urban carbon emissions: a city-level empirical study in China

Projections of Land Use Change and Water Supply–Demand Assessment Based on Climate Change and Socioeconomic Scenarios: A Case Study of Guizhou Province, China

Land use change and water supply–demand assessment are critical to achieving regional sustainable development and improving human wellbeing. In the context of complex climate change and socioeconomic development, there is an urgent need for systematic assessment and forecasting studies on how to combine physical, geographical, and socioeconomic factors to clarify patterns of change in the land use change and water supply–demand, as well as to respond appropriately to different climate and socioeconomic development scenarios in the future. Based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways-Representative Concentration Pathway (SSP-RCP) scenarios, a framework for simulating future land use change and assessing water supply–demand in the coupled SD-PLUS-InVEST model was constructed. The land use change in Guizhou Province from 2020 to 2050 was simulated using the SD-PLUS model, and the water supply–demand conditions were projected for 2030, 2040, and 2050 under multiple scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585). The research results indicated that (1) The land use change in the study area has significant spatial heterogeneity. It showed similar trends in the land use change in the SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios, with both artificial surfaces and forest showing an expansion trend, but the expansion of forest was most typical in the southwestern region in the SSP126 scenario, and there is a significant increase in the northeastern region in the SSP245 scenario. Additionally, there is a rapid expansion of artificial surfaces in the central region in the SSP585 scenario, and a more rapid expansion of cultivated land in the southeastern region, with a significant increase in the area of water bodies. (2) The changes in water supply from 2020 to 2050 under the three scenarios show a smaller increase (5.22–11.88%), a significant increase in water demand (29.45–58.84%), and an increase in the area of water shortage by about 2708.94–9084.40 km2, with the extent of the shortage increasing by about 23.71–79.50%. (3) According to the results of the SSP-RCP scenario projections, socioeconomic development has a significant impact on the growth of water demand, and climate and land use change may exacerbate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of water supply–demand in the karst region. The systematic study of land use change and water supply–demand in Guizhou can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management of regional ecosystems and the rational allocation of land and water resources.

Impact of forest landscape restoration in combating soil erosion in the Lake Abaya catchment, Southern Ethiopia

As an effect of forest degradation, soil erosion is among Ethiopia’s most pressing environmental challenges and a major threat to food security where it could potentially compromise the ecosystem functions and services. As the effects of soil erosion intensify, the landscape’s capacity to support ecosystem functions and services is compromised. Exploring the ecological implications of soil erosion is crucial. This study investigated the soil loss and land degradation in the Lake Abaya catchment to explore forest landscape restoration (FLR) implementation as a possible countermeasure to the effects. The study used a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to determine the potential annual soil loss and develop an erosion risk map. Results show that 13% of the catchment, which accounts for approximately 110,000 ha, is under high erosion risk of exceeding the average annual tolerable soil loss of 10 t/ha/year. Allocation of land on steep slopes to crop production is the major reason for the calculated high erosion risk in the catchment. A scenario-based analysis was implemented following the slope-based land-use allocation proposal indicated in the Rural Land Use Proclamation 456/2005 of Ethiopia. The scenario analysis resulted in a reversal erosion effect whereby an estimated 3000 t/ha/year of soil loss in the catchment. Thus, FLR activities hold great potential for minimizing soil loss and contributing to supporting functioning and providing ecosystem services. Tree-based agroforestry systems are among the key FLR measures championed in highly degraded landscapes in Ethiopia. This study helps policymakers and FLR implementors identify erosion risk areas for future FLR activities. Thereby, it contributes to achieving the country’s restoration commitment.

Multi-objective optimization of food-energy-water nexus via crops land allocation

Bioenergy, specifically produced from crop residue is land and water extensive and should not interfere with food nutrition, water supply, and land use changes. We propose a novel strategy hinging on optimal land allocation in the food-energy-water nexus for various crops to maximize the food and bioenergy production values while minimizing water consumption and satisfying nutritional and dietary constraints. The study is conducted for three regions in the Punjab, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, the states of India, respectively for the monsoon and winter seasons. Remarkably, 33 % increased bioenergy production value, and up to 92 % reduced water consumption can be achieved in all the regions in the monsoon season even with improved food production except in Punjab. Further, water consumption can be reduced substantially up to 81 % in the winter season. Our work showcases that local and inter-regional cooperation helps to obtain sustainable bioenergy production.

A novel and dynamic land use/cover change research framework based on an improved PLUS model and a fuzzy multiobjective programming model

Spatial reconstruction and scenario simulation of historical processes and future trends of land use/cover change (LUCC) can help to reveal the historical background of land conversion and the spatial distribution of future land. Moreover, there is a close relationship between the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use/cover and changes in different ecosystem services (ESs). Using this relationship to simulate future land use scenarios is important. In this study, an LUCC dynamic analysis framework (LSTM-PLUS-FMOP) was constructed based on a deep learning time series forecasting model (LSTM), a parallelized urban land use simulation (PLUS) model and a fuzzy multiobjective programming (FMOP) model. The PLUS model was used to analyze the driving mechanism of land expansion and explore the land conversion pattern. In addition, three land conversion scenarios were established: natural land expansion (NLE), economic development priority (EDP) and regional sustainable development (RSD). The FMOP model and the relationship between LUCC and ES were used to perform a spatial simulation of land conversion. The uncertainty parameters in the model were treated by intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IFSs). This study applied the constructed framework to the Yellow River Basin of Shaanxi Province (YRB-SX). The results showed that (1) from 2000 to 2020, the cropland area of the YRB-SX continuously decreased by 12.67 × 104 ha, while the built-up area continuously increased by 28.25 × 104 ha. The net reduction in woodland and grassland area was 13.90 × 104 ha. (2) The relative error range of land prediction using the LSTM model was 0.0003– 0.0042. This model had better accuracy than the Markov chain prediction model. (3) The cropland area decreased by 0.26% (NLE), 0.85% (EDP) and 1.68% (RSD) under the three scenarios. The built-up area increased by 25.01%, 32.76% and 14.72%, respectively. The RSD scenario followed the principles of ecological protection and spatial constraints, which mitigated the degradation of the ecosystem to some extent. This coupled simulation framework will help to obtain land allocation schemes that meet the requirements of ecological protection and provide solutions for rational land management.

Factors Affecting Smallholder Farmers' Adoption of Soybean Production Technologies in Kondala District Oromia Western Ethiopia

This study examines on the adoption and intensity of soybean production technology in the Kondala district. A two-stage sampling procedure was followed to select the sample households for the study. The study is based on primary data collected from 185 sample-selected households. Four rural kebeles were selected by using simple random sampling. The semi-structured interview schedule was developed, for collecting the essential quantitative data for the study and secondary data were used as additional data sources. Descriptive statistics and the Tobit model were used to analyse the data. This study also identifies soybean production technologies such as recommended seeding rate, recommended fertilizer applications, land allocation. The result of the descriptive statistics showed that the majority of farmers 57.3% were adopters and the remaining 42.7% were non adopters. In terms of land allocation and use of technologies there was a statistical significance difference in technology usage between adopters and non-adopters. The Tobit model results indicated that household ages, education level, farm experience, membership in cooperatives, access to agricultural inputs, participation in non-farm activities, and frequency of extension contact positively and significantly influenced the adoption and intensity of the use of soybean technologies. Whereas, distance from the market centre showed, a negative relationship with the adoption and intensity of adoption of soybeans production technology. The overall finding of the study underlined the high importance of institutional support in the areas of extension; membership in cooperatives and market to enhance the adoption of an improved soybean production package. Therefore, policy and development interventions should give emphasis to the improvement of such institutional support so as to achieve wider adoption which increases the productivity and income of smallholder farmers.

Algorithm of allocation of agricultural land occupied by winter crops

In Russia, many lands legally classified as agricultural land are abandoned. We propose an algorithm for the allocation of agricultural land with winter crops based on the dynamics of normalized relative vegetation index (NDVI) which were verified on the example of the Rostov region, a major producer of agricultural products in Russia. Cereals in Rostov region cover about 70% of the sown areas, most of them are winter wheat. A series of MODIS satellite data for the period March-August 2020 were used for calculations. Crop yields were taken from the Database of Rostov Region Municipalities. NDVI index for the territory of the Rostov region had lowest average value in March, maximum in May with a decrease by August. Pixels with high difference in NDVI values from March to August 2020, were considered agricultural fields. Pixels with NDVI index in range 0.2 - 0.5 in March and April were identified as winter cereal crops. A statistically significant linear relationship with a correlation coefficient of 0.57 between winter wheat yield values according to national statistical data for districts of Rostov region for 2020 and average NDVI values for districts for selected fields occupied by winter wheat in this period was obtained.

Cumans in the Hungarian Domestic Policy in the Second Half of the 13th Century

The article explores a range of issues related to the role of the Cuman population in the life of Hungarian society in the second half of the 13th century. Political crises arose against the background of the struggle between contenders for the throne. Gradually, special vassal-lord relationships were formed. Land allotments were granted to the feudal lords not in exchange for service but on account of their past services to the king. As wealth grew, so did the ambitions of the Hungarian barons. Bela IV planned to use the Cumans, who had resettled in the middle of the 13th century, in the fight against the local magnates. Gradually, the role of nomads in the royal court increased. The Cumans had become one of the key players in the domestic political arena of the country. During the civil war between Bela IV and Prince Istvan, the Cumans supported the king at the beginning of the conflict. During the reign of Laszlo IV, the Cuman aristocracy gained an advantage in terms of influence over the king. The king favored the Cumans, who also comprised his bodyguards. Local magnates, with the support of the papal legate in 1279, achieved the adoption of a law on the Cumans, which radically changed the way of life of the nomads. Because of this, the Cumans rebelled, and the king lost their traditional support. Later, representatives of the Cuman nobility became the main participants in the murder of Laszlo IV.

ESG Ratings and Land Allocation: Unraveling China's Push for Sustainability in Land Markets

ESG Ratings and Land Allocation: Unraveling China's Push for Sustainability in Land Markets

ФОРМУВАННЯ НАПРЯМІВ ЗЕМЕЛЬНОЇ РЕФОРМИ У ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННІ ЕФЕКТИВНОГО ВИКОРИСТАННЯ РЕСУРСІВ СІЛЬСЬКОГОСПОДАРСЬКИХ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ

The article analyzes the aspects related to the implementation of land reform in Ukraine, the basis of the characteristics of this process, advantages and disadvantages that can be determined as influencing factors on the activation of entrepreneurial activity in the agrarian sphere. It is indicated that the establishment of clear and stable land ownership rights can contribute to transparency and accountability in the management of land resources. It is emphasized that if the owners are sure of their rights, this can contribute to greater investment attractiveness and rational use of land. It is emphasized that the land reform can determine the principles of distribution of land resources aimed at sustainable development. This may include taking into account environmental and social aspects in land allocation and use. It was determined that ensuring the legality of land use rights for agriculture can contribute to more efficient use of the soil. This may include rights to lease, use or other forms of use. It is emphasized that the introduction of a land market can stimulate competition and efficiency. It is noted that the owners will be interested in the rational use of their land, as this may affect its market value. It is emphasized that land reform can include measures to support small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, including ensuring access to land and resources for these farms. It is concluded that land reform can include land use regulation systems, such as restrictions on the use of land for certain purposes or the establishment of environmental standards. It is stated that the overall goal of such reforms is to improve the management and use of land to ensure sustainable development of the agricultural sector, economic growth and social development of rural communities. The essence of land relations lies in the management and regulation of the use and ownership of land plots. Land use is a source of income for the budgets of various levels of government. A land market and improved land management can significantly increase the ability of communities to mobilize additional land-related resources. Land reform contributes to the effective use of resources of agricultural enterprises, influencing the organizational structure, management and distribution of land resources.

ІНОЗЕМНІ ВІЙСЬКОВОПОЛОНЕНІ НА КИЇВЩИНІ У 1943-1954 РОКАХ ЗА ДОКУМЕНТАМИ УКРАЇНСЬКИХ АРХІВІВ

The aim of the article is the attribution and characterization of a range of unpublished sources from the archives of Ukraine, which contain information about the situation of prisoners of war of Germany and its allies in Soviet camps on the territory of Kyiv and Kyiv region in 1943–1954. The documents of this complex of sources are classified, their typological and specific diversity, content and informational potential are characterized. The prospects for research on the topic are determined on the basis of the available range of sources. The research methodology is defined by the principles of scientificity, historicism, objectivity and systematicity. The author used the methods of source studies, including archival heuristics, analysis and synthesis of documentary sources. The scientific novelty is in determining the typological and specific composition, content and informational potential of an unpublished array of documents on the history of the regional link of Soviet military captivity in Kyiv region, which are stored in the archives of Ukraine. Conclusions. The identified and systematized array of unpublished sources on the history of the regional branch of the Soviet military captivity in the Kyiv region in 1943–1954 are represented by the directive documents of the top party leadership of the Ukrainian SSR, the government of the republic, regulatory and administrative orders of the NKVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs), records of the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Service, special camps and hospitals, documents of the management entities that used the labour of prisoners of war, the decisions of local authorities on the allocation of buildings and land for the placement of regime facilities and the burial of dead prisoners. The documents studied by the author are stored in the fonds of the Central State Archive of Public Associations of Ukraine, the Central State Archive of Higher Authorities and Administration of Ukraine, the Sectoral State Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the State Archives of Kyiv Region and the City of Kyiv, and the Archival Department of the Bila Tserkva City Council. Documents that differ in content and are unequal in the degree of informativeness characterize the general directions of the Soviet policy in the field of military prisoners at the final stage of the Second World War and in the post-war period, and on the example of a specific region reflect the steps taken by the authorities aimed at its practical implementation. The content of the studied documents allows us: to identify the general features of the Soviet military captivity system and the peculiarities of its regional branch in the Kyiv region, in particular in the context of the organization, functioning and liquidation of camps and special hospitals for prisoners of war in 1943–1954; to find out the situation of foreign prisoners in the camps of Kyiv and the region, the peculiarities of the regime of detention, material, household, food provision and treatment; to reveal the regional and sectoral specifics of the deployment of contingents of prisoners in the region; to investigate the peculiarities of the exploitation of prisoner of war labour in the housing and communal sphere, industry, transport infrastructure and road construction; to trace the fate of graves of foreign prisoners of war, who died and were buried on the territory of the city of Kyiv and Kyiv region; to study the issue of repatriation of prisoners of war from the camps of the region. The available range of unpublished sources from the archives of Ukraine is promising for further research on the topic.

Typification and differentiation of smallholder dairy production systems in smallholder mixed farming in the highlands of southern Ethiopia.

The present study aimed to classify smallholder dairy production systems by analyzing land allocation for various crop types and characterizing them based on integration with specific crops which is gap in earlier studies. A total of 360 smallholder farmers were interviewed to generate firsthand information in addition to using secondary data sources. The classification utilized K-means clustering, while discriminant analysis was applied to accentuate the distinct characteristics of dairy production systems (DPSs). Subsequently, for a particular crop to be considered dominant, the minimum farmland allocation had to exceed 30%. Based on this, the 360 respondent farmers in the study areas were categorized into four distinct DPSs: diversified crop-based (DCB) at 31%, enset-based (EB) at 28%, cereal-based (CB) at 24% and cash crop-based (CCB) with coffee, khat, vegetables, fruits, and sugarcane accounting for 17%. Within the CCB dairy production system, where cash crops were cultivated most dominantly, averaging 56% of the farmland, farmers reported the highest annual income and, consequently, acquired more improved dairy cows, facilitating their entry into intensive dairy production. Ownership of improved dairy cattle breeds, use of agro-industrial byproducts as feed, practicing stall feeding and better housing are observed practices in this DPS that relate to the intensification of dairy production. This positive relationship was observed between the commercialization of crops and the intensification of dairy production in the CCB dairy production system. In the EB dairy system, enset dominates with a 33% area share, leading to increased residues for cattle feed. They keep large herds of local cattle, limited crossbreeding experience, and prefer conventional feeding. The CB system allocates 47% of land to cereals, justifying cereal residues as primary dairy feed. Cultivating grasses like Pennisetum pedicellatum and Phalaris arundinacea is also highly valued in the system. The DCB system, with diverse crops (none exceeding 30%), implies varied residues for dairy feed. These findings reveal unique characteristics across dairy systems, indicating a positive correlation between crop commercialization and dairy intensification. Hence, understanding each type of DPS and its characteristics will help development experts or those in charge of designing agricultural policy to establish the best strategic plans for enhancing the productivity of dairy cattle under smallholder conditions.