Small Settlements Research Articles

Building Roads to Take the Land. Urban Amazonia and the Case of San Julian

This essay examines the vast urban transformation of the Amazon Rainforest during the second half of the twentieth century. It frames the mid twentieth century geopolitical forces and governmental ethos that instigated the largest urbanization process in the history of the forest. More specifically, the text showcases the small but prominent settlement of San Julian, in the Bolivian eastern plains, as a model project in the context of a regional forest that continues to rapidly urbanize, raising important questions and presenting an important model about urban and economic development in an age of extreme environmental uncertainty.

Slum upgrading and participation: Insights from a marginalized neighbourhood in Buenos Aires

This paper rethinks participation in slum upgrading beyond a well-established dichotomy of “top-down” and “bottom-up” processes and instead proposes a relational and strategic approach to urban transformation. Based on qualitative research with a small informal settlement, Barrio Saldías, in Buenos Aires, that fell off the city government's agenda, this paper explores the role of participation in promoting upgrading from the margins. It argues that Saldías differs from instances of community-led upgrading due to the central role of party brokers and political representatives (especially from the local state) alongside residents, all of whom participate together in a political climate dominated by the discourses of citizen participation and slum upgrading. Rather than collapsing these experiences into the logic of clientelism, participation is centred as the articulatory logic based on a shared desire and commitment to transforming urban space, towards multiple political ends. Participatory upgrading in Saldías exceeds the narrow focus of project-centric approaches and draws on a wider trajectory of participation in Buenos Aires. It demonstrates this through an analysis of three moments of participatory upgrading in Saldías.

Assessment of the anthropogenic transformation of post-forest vegetation in the village of Guzeripl and its environs (the Republic of Adygea, the Western Caucasus) based on the composition and structure of complexes of dominant species

Definition of the ceno-flora or regional flora in the cenosis, the proportion of species resistant or non-resistant to impacts has become widespread among the methods of indicating disturbances in vegetation cover.However, such studies, if they are conducted on a large spatial scale, require significant time and do not imply spatial detailing of the results. It is suggested that for several reasons it would be useful to use dominant species to solve this problem. The goal of the research is to demonstrate the possibilities of one of the variants of this approach using the example of vegetation of a small settlement (the mountain village of Guzeripl). It consists in studying the composition (level of synanthropization) and structure of species complexes that dominate communities in relatively large visually homogeneous areas of the terrain (0.15–0.2 ha). The results have shown that, on average, the highest level of synanthropization (transformation) is characteristic of dominant complexes of young fallow lands, a lower level of wastelands and roadsides, and a significantly lower level of old fallow lands and hayfields. In general, communities with a moderate degree of disturbance predominate in the study area. The results also indicate that the impact of anthropogenic factors on areas of vegetation leads to changes not only in the composition of dominant complexes, but also in their structure, the parameters of which can be considered as an additional tool for indicating anthropogenic disturbances.

Akberdino-3 – the Great Migration Period Manor in the Forest-Steppe Zone of Southern Pre-Urals

The present study is based on materials obtained during archaeological excavations at the Akberdino-3 site in 2009. The site is located on the right bank of the Belaya River in the forest-steppe zone of Southern Pre-Urals (modern Iglinsky District of the Republic of Bashkortostan, 15 km southeast from the Ufa-city). It is shown that a single thin cultural layer of this small settlement site contains Imendyashevo, Turbasly ceramics, and ceramics with a mixture of both these traditions, and can be dated to the 4th century AD (most likely from the middle to the end of this period), but this manor existed for a very short time. The studied osteological sample was compared with data on 18 zooarchaeological samples from Southern Ural and bordering territories. Multivariate analysis of this dataset has shown that at the beginning of the 1st millennium AD there was a significant transformation in the composition of herd, held by local population.

Exploring rural futures through spatial‐temporal migration balance changes in a North‐Caucasian rural basin

AbstractA better understanding of spatial‐temporal demographic changes in rural regions can contribute to envision potential rural futures and improve regional planning. This research aimed to analyse the migration balance and its spatial‐temporal changes in a rural basin in the Russian Federation's North Caucasus District. The basin was divided into water functional zones to examine the environmental conditions and relate them to possible future anthropogenic pressures and threats to population well‐being. Two migration balance indicators (on total population and working‐age sector) were calculated in settlements to classify them as attractors, expellers or stable population entities in two census data (2014 and 2020). The spatial‐temporal changes were assessed by testing two hypotheses: one related to population concentration and rural depopulation trends; the other focused on working‐age migration and workforce availability. Moreover, a foresight tool employed migration balance indicators in 2020 to explore population trends and possible trajectories. Findings revealed that in this rural basin, a small number of settlements served as attractors in the upper functional zone where two urban centres are found, potentially intensifying soil erosion and pollution. In the middle and lower functional zones, most rural and small urban settlements showed unfavored migration balances, leading to population and workforce decline. Negative environmental factors like declining water quality and increased wind erosion could worsen this trend. The migration challenges by functional zones highlight the growing regional disparities. The combination of spatial demography with the basin approach provided improved information to foster collaboration in a shared basin and effectively address undesirable rural outcomes at regional level.

Reorganization of Population Placement System in Northwestern Siberia as a Reflection of Socio-Economic Policies of USSR in 1930s-1950s

This study examines the changes in the population placement system within Northwestern Siberia during the 1930s-1950s. It provides an overview of the settlement network that formed the basis of population distribution in the region. Previously unpublished archival data on settlement typology, population size, resettlement to the north during industrialization and collectivization, and post-war periods are introduced into scholarly discourse. The dynamics of population size and distribution in national districts are discussed, along with an exploration of the ethnic composition of rural settlements’ inhabitants. The study notes a decrease in the proportion of indigenous peoples alongside an increase in the number of Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Germans in the ethnic composition of the population, largely due to mass forced migrations. It is concluded that compared to the 1920s, there was a reduction in the number of small settlements of nomadic peoples (yurts, reindeer camps) during the period under review. As a result of sedentarization efforts among the indigenous population of the region, a significant portion of their settlements became permanent and acquired town status. The typological structure of the settlement network changed: the number of “alien” type settlements decreased, giving rise to “special settlements,” an increase in towns, and rural nonagricultural settlements such as animal farms, forestry areas, and settlements near factories.

Estimating and Reducing Leakages in the Water Distribution Networks of Small Settlements: The Case of Agios Germanos in the Prespes Municipality

Estimating and Reducing Leakages in the Water Distribution Networks of Small Settlements: The Case of Agios Germanos in the Prespes Municipality

Reconstructing dietary practices at Tell Kamid el-Loz (Lebanon) during the Bronze and Iron Age III / Persian to Hellenistic periods using plant micro-remains from dental calculus and stable isotope analysis of bone collagen

Tell Kamid el-Loz (Lebanon) was an important Bronze Age urban center that dominated one of the central crossroads of the Ancient Near East, connecting Egypt and the Levant with northern Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Syria, as well as the interior with the Mediterranean coast. However, by the early Iron Age, the site had shrunk to a small rural settlement. Later, in the Iron Age III / Persian-Hellenistic, only enigmatic pits and a large cemetery remained. In this paper, we analyzed plant micro-remains from the dental calculus of 15 individuals (3 from the Middle Bronze Age II and 12 from the Iron Age III / Persian-Hellenistic) and δ13C and δ15N stable isotope data from tbulk bone collagen of 74 individuals (10 from the Middle Bronze Age II and 64 from the Iron Age III / Persian-Hellenistic) and 13 Late Bronze Age animal bones (7 Ovis/Capra and 6 Bos). Our results indicate general stability of human diet throughout the Middle Bronze Age II and the Iron III / Persian-Hellenistic periods, with a reliance on C3 plant crops and terrestrial animals also consuming C3 plants. In the later period, the plant micro-remains indicate the consumption of C4 plants and sedges, and the stable isotope analysis indicates differences in diet between males and females.

«Economy of adoption»: street-level bureaucracy VS. Rural community

The case study of the “adoption economy” examines the social factors that determine the decision-making of street-level bureaucrats. Research deals with small villages, whose residents adopted children in the 2000th in order to increase the number of pupils in the underutilized local schools and thus resisted their shutdown. The authors studied cases from five different regions in Russia, where at the time of the field study underutilized local schools were closed in three rural settlements, but in the other five settlements they were “saved” with the help of the “adoption economy”. The authors relied on M. Lipsky’s concept of “street-level bureaucrats” and A. Portes’ theory of social capital. Qualitative data were collected from 88 individual semi-structured interviews, an observation diary, documents, and photographic materials. The institutional context of “bureaucratic” discretion in determining what rural schools are subject to shut down is analyzed. The results of the study showed that the social capital of rural “street-level bureaucrats” (usually teachers of rural schools), due to their (un)inclusion in close interaction with local residents, to whom they provide services, becomes an important factor in (un)making a decision to retain a underutilized school in small rural settlement. In Portes’ theory perspective street-level bureaucrats are regarded as donors for rural community as they are forced by the territorial community to share economic resources – to continue financing a small-size school despite the obvious economic inexpediency.

Assessment of atmospheric pollution by potentially toxic elements in the urban areas of the Riotinto mining district

Ore mineralizations in bedrock and their exploitation may have a negative impact on air quality of surrounding urban areas and, subsequently, on human health. This study uses lichens as bioindicators of atmospheric pollution to evaluate the spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the towns close to the massive sulfide deposits of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) in SW Spain. Altogether 89 native lichen samples of Xanthoria parietina were collected from the mining towns, control towns out of the reach of the mining activity, as well as from distal sampling sites. The samples were analyzed for 29 elements after acid digestion. The concentrations for Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, W, Tl, Pb, S, and Fe are significantly higher in the mining towns in comparison to the control towns. The ore mineral-associated PTEs, including Cu, Zn, As, Ba, and Pb, exhibit extreme concentrations in the urban areas close to the mining activity, and particularly in the small settlement of La Dehesa next to the mineral processing plant and the tailings pond. The distal samples confirm the decrease in the concentrations of all PTEs, and these samples present similar values as in the control areas. The results, point at increased bioaccumulation of PTEs in the lichen thalli of the adjacent urban areas, suggesting that the air quality of the adjacent urban areas is locally impacted by the massive polymetallic sulfide deposits which is enhanced by the mining activity. Therefore, monitoring the urban air quality is recommended.

Evaluating the Spatial Heterogeneity and Driving Factors of Sustainable Development Level in Chengdu with Point of Interest Data and Geographic Detector Model

Over the past few decades, China has undergone the largest and fastest urbanization process in world history. By 2023, Chengdu’s urbanization rate had reached 80.5%, significantly higher than the national average of 66.16%. Studying the urbanization experience of Chengdu is of great significance for optimizing urban planning policies in Chengdu and other cities in China. Although much literature has explored the urbanization process from macro and micro perspectives, studies using a top-down approach to examine urban fringe expansion are relatively scarce. This study first applies the entropy weight method to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution trends of urban development, identifying areas of imbalanced development and prominent issues. Secondly, the K-means machine learning algorithm and nightlight data are used to reconstruct and classify urban regions, and a comparative analysis is conducted with administrative divisions to further identify unreasonable areas in urban spatial distribution and structure. Finally, POI data and the geographical detector method are used to analyze the micro-driving forces in areas of imbalanced development, identifying major limiting factors and solutions. The study found that the gap between urban and rural development in Chengdu is narrowing during the urbanization process, but there is severe differentiation in the second circle of Chengdu, where economic development is accelerating but residents’ happiness is declining. Moreover, analysis based on urban nightlight data and land-use data reveals that the expansion areas on the urban-rural fringe are mainly concentrated in the second circle of Chengdu. Micro-level driving factor analysis found that the western region of the second circle has many but small urban settlements, with a dense road network but scattered functional areas. The eastern region has inefficient and extensive use of construction land. Additionally, the mismatch between student status and household registration has resulted in relatively lagging educational resource development, and high entry barriers have hindered the progress of urbanization, leading to low per capita welfare expenditure. These reasons are the main factors causing the decline in residents’ happiness, and this impact shows significant differences at different temporal and spatial scales. Encouraging innovation in research and development or education can serve as a long-term and effective driving force for promoting sustainable urbanization. This study provides valuable insights for scientifically planning sustainable urban development and promoting the urbanization process.

Micro-botanical evidence of plant food sources and stone tool functions at the Sujiacun site from the Longshan period in southeastern Shandong Province, China

During the early and middle periods of the Longshan culture (4600–4200 cal BP), early states developed around the Liangchengzhen and Yaowangcheng sites along the coastal areas of southeastern Shandong. Intensive agriculture and the specialised production of stone tools symbolised the advanced development of Longshan society. However, previous archaeological research in this area has focused mainly on the central settlements of the Longshan culture. As small and medium-sized rural settlements have not been sufficiently explored, their subsistence economy and stone tool functions remain unclear. Starch grains and phytolith assemblages in the residues on stone tool surfaces provide direct tangible evidence of the functions of these tools and offer a new perspective on the characteristics of plant resource use at archaeological sites. The Sujiacun site in Rizhao was a Longshan-period rural settlement in coastal southeastern Shandong. This study conducted starch grain and phytolith analyses of the residues on the surfaces of 17 stone tools from the Sujiacun site. Starch grains of foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), rice (Oryza sativa), roots and tubers, and plants of the Hordeum genus were identified, as well as phytoliths of broomcorn millet and rice and those commonly found in grass stems and leaves. This micro-botanical data together with other archaeological evidence suggest that foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, and rice were the main plant foods and that mixed farming of millet and rice was the main subsistence economy at the Sujiacun site. Knives and sickles were mainly used for harvesting crops and sometimes for peeling, slicing, and chopping roots and tubers. The stone muller was used for grinding rather than dehusking grain, and the grinding stone was used not only for polishing stone tools but also for grinding plants. Our findings provide new insights into the methods of plant use and subsistence practices of the Longshan complex society on the east coast of China.

АНАЛИЗ АЭРОМОБИЛЬНЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ, ПРИМЕНЯЕМЫХ ДЛЯ ДОСТАВКИ ЛИЧНОГО СОСТАВА СПАСАТЕЛЬНЫХ ПОДРАЗДЕЛЕНИЙ И РАЗЛИЧНЫХ ГРУЗОВ В УСЛОВИЯХ АРКТИЧЕСКОЙ ЗОНЫ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

The relevance of the implementation of airmobile technologies for the purpose of emergency rescue and search and rescue operations, carrying out measures to protect the population in case of natural and man-made emergencies, measures to eliminate the consequences of emergencies in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation with its huge distances and the focal nature of infrastructure development is due to: an underdeveloped road network; the dispersion of settlements over a vast territory and remoteness small settlements from district centers with vital infrastructure; seasonality of navigation of water transport; the rapidly developing economic activity in the region, the need for search and rescue and rescue support for facilities in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. When analyzing the effectiveness of airmobile technologies used to deliver personnel of rescue units and various cargoes when performing tasks for their intended purpose in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, the following aspects of the use of aviation during search and rescue tasks by units of EMERCOM of Russia were considered: types, tactical and technical characteristics, capabilities of aircraft equipped with aviation of EMERCOM of Russia; ways of implementing airmobile technologies for the delivery of personnel and cargo by air transport; the specifics of the implementation of airmobile technologies in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. In order to ensure the implementation of airmobile technologies, a number of measures are recommended, in particular, to organize an airborne service in the Arctic integrated emergency rescue center, to provide cargo and human parachute systems, landing equipment and property.

Features of the pottery assemblage of the XIII–XIV centuries from excavations of the Syukeyevsky Vzvoz II Campsite medieval sediments

The article deals with the ceramic material from the excavations of 2021 on the territory of the multilayer archaeological site Syukeyevsky Vzvoz II. Judging by the totality of the finds (metal slag and pig iron, blanks and semi-finished iron products, blacksmithing tools), a blacksmithing workshop could have been located here in the Golden Horde period. Russian pottery make up the majority of the assemblage, which suggests that there is a settlement of immigrants from Russian lands here. By the nature of the finds, this location can be interpreted as the artisan periphery of a small urban-type settlement associated with iron processing.

On territorial border markers of the settlement of Russians of the Middle Tom River region in the beginning of the 18th — mid 20th centuries

The concept of studying of ethnographic and archaeological complexes (EAC) involves the analysis of their individual components: population, villages, communication routes and others, including borders — both external and internal. The analysis of archaeological, historical, and ethnographic literature has shown that borders or borderlands can be traced in almost all populations at any stage of their development. However, while the borders between large associations, like states or ethnic groups with different cultures, have been addressed by experts, almost no attention is being given to local boundaries between smaller collectives, although there are written, cartographic and oral sources that can be used as a basis for such research. After considering the materials of various origins concerning the native villages of the Middle Tom region, it became possible to discuss the bounda-ries between them, and the boundaries of the administrative entities which encompassed them in the 18th century. At this time, residents of villages located 15–30 km north of the Kuznetsk fortress were moving to new unoccupied lands in the upper reaches of the river Inia and its upper tributaries, as well as to the left bank of Tom below the mouth of the Mungat River. According to the drawings of S.U. Remezov, there was a boundary between the Tomsk and Kuznetsk districts. The borderline rivers could be Unga-Promyshlennaya in the north and Osipovo-Mungat in the south. Possibly, there were small settlements of Tulbers. After the middle of the 19th century, an-other process of settlement of the Tom riverbank territories of its both sides began. By the 1930s, all its banks were inhabited, and the reserve of free lands came to end. Indigenous people began developing islands on the river or starting settlements within 15–20 km from the village. In the second third of the 20th century, new villages were developing in the remote territories away from Tom. Almost all of them were abandoned in the second half of the 20th century. The available information suggests that there were borderlands between the villages within single districts. Most often these were represented by watercourses — small rivers and streams, ridges — elon-gated hills located perpendicular to terraces, and sometimes lakes. These borders were well known to locals. It cannot be ruled out that river rapids and shoals could also have been used as borders. The analysis of the corre-lation of locations of the villages, river rifts and stretches suggests that, in the studied area of Tom, villages were located on the river stretches between the shoals. There is also information about the existence of boundaries between minor objects, though they require further research.

International Migration, Xenophobia and Migrant Employment in Rural Areas: Konya Example

This study examines the problems arising from that the agricultural sector has become a significant employment area for migrant labor due to migrant migration. The presence of migrant labor in the agricultural sector has increased because of the cost advantages provided by agricultural operators of cheap labor supply despite informal working conditions. Migrant labor has crucial contributions to the sustainability of production activities, especially in the agricultural sector, where the local labor does not want to be employed. However, the perspective of local people toward migrants differs over time, especially due to different social and cultural characteristics. Since these differences are more noticeable in small settlements, such as rural areas people who are migrant to society or national identity become unwanted in the living spaces of local people over course of time, this study aimed to determine the perspective toward migrant labor and to evaluate the impact of this situation on the sustainability of production. In line with the results obtained, policy recommendations were made for the integration of migrant labor and the planning of agricultural activities.

ETHNOMATHEMATICS IN THE FORM OF MARKET SNACKS IN JARGARIA MARKET DOBO

Dobo City, a small settlement in the Aru Islands, which is rich in traditional heritage, establishes traditional foods such as market snacks as an integral part of traditional processions. The purpose of this study is to identify the various geometric shapes found in various market snacks and their relation to mathematics. The ethnomathematics approach was used in the research method to analyse the various shapes of market snacks based on the properties of flat and spatial shapes contained in the School curriculum. This research is descriptive qualitative, with data collection conducted through literature review, field observations, and interviews with various related parties. There are various mathematical geometric elements identified in this study, such as flat shapes in the form of triangles and circles, as well as spatial shapes such as blocks, balls, and tubes. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the development of contextual learning, especially in the application of mathematical concepts in the context of everyday life.

DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL CITIESIN THE ARCTIC ZONE(EVIDENCE FROM THE KARELIAN ARCTICAND ARKHANGELSK REGION)

The economic development of the off-shore territories of the Arctic zone is characterized by certain advantages and risks associated with the geographical location. Territorial formations of the ASRF have unequal economic structure and different levels of economic development, harsh climatic conditions, preferential economic and legal regime, etc. Territories develop unevenly: some territories have steady economic growth, others are characterized by processes of stagnation, still others are characterized by degradation and devastation. The object of the research is the coastal territories of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, and the subject is the process of their economic development. The aim is to study the process of development of coastal cities in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, on the example of the Karelian Arctic and the Arkhangelsk region. The study is based on the use of hardware for comparative analysis and assessment of indicators of coastal territories' development. The novelty of the study is the use of the rank method and the calculation of σ-variance coefficient, which allow to determine the presence of regional heterogeneity in its dynamics in the context of coastal cities of the ASRF, on the example of the Karelian Arctic and the Arkhangelsk region. The results determined the presence of a gap between the urban settlements under consideration. The assessment of the inequality of some indicators demonstrates the trend of coastal cities to convergence, other indicators in the context of coastal cities steadily diverge. Large urban settlements break away from other cities of the European North. Small urban settlements of coastal location - Kem, Kandalaksha, Belomorsk - are characterized by a low level of development. The findings may serve as the basis to form the strategic and program documents, and can be also used as additional material, while analyzing the coastal cities of the AZRF and the dynamics of their development.

«Печально зимой в Булуне»: А. В. Боголепов о повседневности заполярной Якутии в 1913–1916 гг.

Goals. The article introduces an unknown manuscript by A. Bogolepov titled ‘Bulun Village of Verkhoyansk District (Yakutsk Oblast)’ and compiled during an exile to the isolated Arctic locality of Yakutia. The narrative was written before the revolutionary events of 1917 and is of certain interest since it lacks any political bias, being characterized by restrained neutrality and sufficient depth of observations over everyday realias of the small northern settlement. A. Bogolepov’s text is attractive for the breadth of issues covered, its consonance with the social and cultural problems faced by the era and discussed by the advanced public. So, it seems reasonable enough to publish the identified document for further discussion in an interdisciplinary perspective. Materials and methods. The manuscript was discovered at the State Archive of Irkutsk Oblast (Coll. 293 ‘East Siberian Department of the Russian Geographical Society’). Furthermore, in search of additional data on the former’s author we investigated the State Archive of Altai Krai (Barnaul), State Archive of Krasnoyarsk Krai (Krasnoyarsk), National Archive of Sakha-Yakutia (Yakutsk), Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow) and its St. Petersburg Branch, and the efforts have yielded a variety of precious finds. The methodological basis rests on the principles characteristic of the field the researchers are actually engaged in — cryoanthropology. Results. The discovered materials open a previously unknown page in the Yakut pre-Soviet Northern studies. A. Bogolepov’s manuscript is rich in data on natural conditions, economic and cultural activities in the small remote settlement somewhat representing the polar world in miniature. The author highlights the interpenetration of Russian and Yakut cultures, mentions some specific local sociocultural phenomena resulting from the geographical location and climatic features. The long cold period — as is stressed by A. Bogolepov — shapes the entire life cycle of the settlement: it completely determines the functioning of the transport network, household and trade agendas, everyday life and leisure pursuits of locals. The isolation and scarcity of social activity, temporal and event-based ‘frozen’ everyday life of the northern society are emphasized. The manuscript is an important source for the research of cryoanthropology, and also contains valuable information on Yakutia’s socioeconomic and cultural history throughout the early decades of the twentieth century.

ВЗАИМОСВЯЗЬ НАЛОГООБЛОЖЕНИЯ И ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ СЕЛЬСКОЙ ТЕРРИТОРИИ, КАК СУБЪЕКТА ЭКОНОМИКИ

In recent years, attention has been increasing to various aspects of rural development that form the socio-economic sustainability of small settlements. The subjects of the rural economy make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the village, and in fact it is agro-enterprises that act as a driver of rural development. The issues of taxation of agricultural enterprises are the most complex and at the same time the most "sensitive", however, insufficient attention is paid to these issues in the entire range of areas of sustainable rural development. Due to the fact that there is a direct relationship between the effectiveness of tax policy and the profitability of an economic entity, agricultural enterprises need to monitor the tax burden and control its level, while complying with the requirements of legislation regarding the regulation of taxation and labor relations. The article examines the problems faced by agricultural enterprises in connection with the constant reforms of the agricultural taxation system.