Bedele (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Bedele is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Illubabor Zone
, Bedele is bordered on the south by Gechi
, on the southwest by Chora
, on the west by Dega
, on the north by the southern exclave of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the northeast by the Didessa River
which separates it from the Misraq Welega Zone
, and on the southeast by Gechi
. Towns in Bedele include Bedele
and Kone.
is an important cash crop of this woreda, where over 50 square kilometers are planted with this crop. Another important crop is tea
; in 1995 East African Agri-Business (a subsidiary of East African Group (Ethiopia)) founded a tea plantation covering 870 hectares at Chewaka, about 90 kilometers northwest of the town of Bedele, with an initial investment of 87 million Birr
. Other local industry includes the Bedele brewery
.
This woreda was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
in 2003 as one of several areas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas. Bedele was planned to be the new home for 2087 households consisting of a total of 4042 total family members. These people were settled at Chewaka. However, far more people actually came to live there: 8000 households arrived in the first phase, and 6000 more in the second phase. A survey by the Ethiopian Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission performed in the first half of April 2004 found their living conditions deplorable. They found the settlers' nutritional status was poor, with only one grain mill available for each of the seven sub-sites, which resulted in a wait of one to two weeks to have their cereal ground for eating. There was inadequate drinking water
. The inhabitants and their children were reported to "have no clothes to wear except a single blanket provided to each households. Those households with many family members pointed out that they are suffering from cold due to lack of clothes and proper sheltering." There was no school for the children, and while there were numerous medical clinics, the facilities were reportedly understaffed.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 139,425, of whom 71,749 are men and 67,676 are women; 23,673 or 16.98% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12%. With an estimated area of 1,678.44 square kilometers, Bedele has an estimated population density of 83.1 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 72.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 97,477, of whom 47,353 were men and 50,124 women; 13,243 or 13.59% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Bedele were the Oromo
(91.16%), and the Amhara
(6.22%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.62% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 93.19%, and 5.19% Amharic
; the remaining 1.62% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 60.42% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 29.31% of the population said they were Muslim
, 5.06% held traditional beliefs, and 4.91% were Protestant
.
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Part of the Illubabor Zone
Illubabor Zone
Illubabor is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Illubabor is named for the former province Illubabor. It is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the southwest by the Gambela Region, on the west by Misraq Welega, on the north by the...
, Bedele is bordered on the south by Gechi
Gechi (woreda)
Gechi is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Gechi is bordered on the south by Didessa, on the east by the Jimma Zone, on the north by Bedele, and on the east by the Didessa River which separates it from the Jimma Zone. Towns in Gechi include Gechi...
, on the southwest by Chora
Chora (woreda)
Chora is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Chora is bordered on the south by the Jimma Zone, on the west by Yayu, on the northwest by Supena Sodo, on the north by Dega, and on the east by Bedele. The major town in Chora is Kumbabe.Coffee is an...
, on the west by Dega
Dega (woreda)
Dega is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Dega is bordered on the south by Chora, on the west by Supena Sodo, on the north by the Mirab Welega Zone, on the northeast by the southern exclave of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, and on the east by Bedele...
, on the north by the southern exclave of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the northeast by the Didessa River
Didessa River
The Didessa River is a river in western Ethiopia. A tributary of the Abay River, it rises in the mountains of Gomma, flowing in a northwestern direction to its confluence where the course of the Abay has curved to its southernmost point before turning northwards at about...
which separates it from the Misraq Welega Zone
Misraq Welega Zone
Misraq Welega is one of the 12 Zones in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. This zone acquired its name from the former province of Welega...
, and on the southeast by Gechi
Gechi (woreda)
Gechi is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Gechi is bordered on the south by Didessa, on the east by the Jimma Zone, on the north by Bedele, and on the east by the Didessa River which separates it from the Jimma Zone. Towns in Gechi include Gechi...
. Towns in Bedele include Bedele
Bedele
Bedele is a town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Illubabor Zone of the Oromia Region, this town has a longitude and latitude of and an elevation between above sea level. It is the larger of two towns in Bedele woreda....
and Kone.
Overview
CoffeeCoffee production in Ethiopia
The coffee production in Ethiopia is critical to the Ethiopian economy with about 25% of the population depending directly or indirectly on coffee for its livelihood...
is an important cash crop of this woreda, where over 50 square kilometers are planted with this crop. Another important crop is tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
; in 1995 East African Agri-Business (a subsidiary of East African Group (Ethiopia)) founded a tea plantation covering 870 hectares at Chewaka, about 90 kilometers northwest of the town of Bedele, with an initial investment of 87 million Birr
Ethiopian birr
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well....
. Other local industry includes the Bedele brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
.
This woreda was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the agricultural and rural development policies of Ethiopia on a Federal level...
in 2003 as one of several areas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas. Bedele was planned to be the new home for 2087 households consisting of a total of 4042 total family members. These people were settled at Chewaka. However, far more people actually came to live there: 8000 households arrived in the first phase, and 6000 more in the second phase. A survey by the Ethiopian Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission performed in the first half of April 2004 found their living conditions deplorable. They found the settlers' nutritional status was poor, with only one grain mill available for each of the seven sub-sites, which resulted in a wait of one to two weeks to have their cereal ground for eating. There was inadequate drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
. The inhabitants and their children were reported to "have no clothes to wear except a single blanket provided to each households. Those households with many family members pointed out that they are suffering from cold due to lack of clothes and proper sheltering." There was no school for the children, and while there were numerous medical clinics, the facilities were reportedly understaffed.
Demographics
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 139,425, of whom 71,749 are men and 67,676 are women; 23,673 or 16.98% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12%. With an estimated area of 1,678.44 square kilometers, Bedele has an estimated population density of 83.1 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 72.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 97,477, of whom 47,353 were men and 50,124 women; 13,243 or 13.59% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Bedele were the Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
(91.16%), and the Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
(6.22%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.62% of the population. Oromiffa
Oromo language
Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromo, Oromiffa, Afan Boran, Afan Orma, and sometimes in other languages by variant spellings of these names , is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic family. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 25 million Oromo and...
was spoken as a first language by 93.19%, and 5.19% Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
; the remaining 1.62% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 60.42% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 29.31% of the population said they were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
, 5.06% held traditional beliefs, and 4.91% were Protestant
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
.