Meda Welabu
Encyclopedia
Meda Welabu is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Bale Zone
, Meda Welabu is bordered on the south by the Ganale Dorya River
which separates it from the Borena Zone
, on the northwest by Nensebo
, on the north by Mennana Harena Buluk
, and on the northeast by Guradamole
. The administrative center of the woreda is Bidire; other towns in Meda Welabu include Oborso.
, which is just under 300 meters above sea level. Other perennial rivers include the Dumal and Iyya Rivers. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 16.9% is arable or cultivable (10% was under annual crops), 45.6% pasture, 34% forest
and heavy vegetation, and the remaining 3.5% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable. Notable landmarks include Meda, which is 33 kilometers from Bidire. Wheat
, barley
, teff
, corn
, sorghum
and oats
are important crops. Although coffee
is an important cash crop, less than 2,000 hectares are planted with it.
No industry has been reported for this woreda, although 4 wholesalers, 4 retailers and 3 service providers are licensed in Meda Welabu. Gold, silver and platinum have been reported in this woreda, but have not been commercially developed. There were 9 Farmers Associations with 4,937 members and 4 Farmers Service Cooperatives with 913 members. Meda Welabu has 75 kilometers of dry-weather road, for an average road density of 8.6 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. About 13% of the total population has access to drinking water
.
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. Together with Berbere
and Gaserana Gololcha
, Meda Welabu became the new home for a total of 5219 heads of households and 19,758 family members.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 85,661, of whom 42,321 were males and 43,340 were females; 2,567 or 3.00% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 13.5%. With an estimated area of 8,726.72 square kilometers, Meda Welabu has an estimated population density of 9.8 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 27.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 61,919, of whom 31,494 were men and 30,425 women; 1,434 or 2.32% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Meda Welabu were the Oromo
(97.15%), the Somali
(1.77%), and the Amhara
(0.8%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.28% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 96.67%, 1.89% spoke Somali
, and 1.37% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 0.07% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim
, with 97.85% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 1.64% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
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 Bale Zone
Bale Zone
Bale is one of the 17 zones in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Bale is named for the former kingdom of Bale, which was in approximately the same area...
, Meda Welabu is bordered on the south by the Ganale Dorya River
Ganale Dorya River
The Ganale Dorya River is a perennial river in southeastern Ethiopia. Rising in the mountains east of Aleta Wendo, the Dawa flows south and east to join with the Dawa at the border with Somalia to become the Jubba. Tributaries include the Welmel, Weyib , Dumale, Doya, Hawas and the Hambala...
which separates it from the Borena Zone
Borena Zone
Borena is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Borena is named after a tribe of the Oromo people. Borena is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the north by Guji and on the east by the Somali Region. The...
, on the northwest by Nensebo
Nensebo (woreda)
Nensebo is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Nensebo is bordered on the south by the Borena Zone, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the northwest by Kokosa, on the north by Dodola, on the northeast by Adaba, on...
, on the north by Mennana Harena Buluk
Mennana Harena Buluk
Mennana Harena Buluk is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Mennana Harena Buluk is bordered on the south by Meda Welabu, on the west by Nensebo, on the northwest by Adaba, on the north by Goba, on the northeast by Berbere, and on the east by Guradamole...
, and on the northeast by Guradamole
Guradamole, Oromia (woreda)
Guradamole is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Guradamole is bordered on the south by the Ganale Dorya River which separates it from the Borena Zone, on the southwest by Meda Welabu, on the west by Mennana Harena Buluk, on the northwest by Berbere, on...
. The administrative center of the woreda is Bidire; other towns in Meda Welabu include Oborso.
Overview
Mount Wanho is the highest point in this woreda; other notable peaks include Mounts Boreda and Coromso. The lowest point is along the Welmel RiverWelmel River
The Welmel is a river of eastern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Ganale Dorya River.- See also :* List of Ethiopian rivers...
, which is just under 300 meters above sea level. Other perennial rivers include the Dumal and Iyya Rivers. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 16.9% is arable or cultivable (10% was under annual crops), 45.6% pasture, 34% forest
Forestry in Ethiopia
In the late nineteenth century, about 30% of Ethiopia was covered with forest. The clearing of land for agricultural use and the cutting of trees for fuel gradually changed the scene, and today forest areas have dwindled to less than 4% of Ethiopia's total land. The northern parts of the highlands...
and heavy vegetation, and the remaining 3.5% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable. Notable landmarks include Meda, which is 33 kilometers from Bidire. Wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, teff
Teff
Eragrostis tef, known as teff, taf , or khak shir , is an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to the northern Ethiopian Highlands of Northeast Africa....
, corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
and oats
OATS
OATS - Open Source Assistive Technology Software - is a source code repository or "forge" for assistive technology software. It was launched in 2006 with the goal to provide a one-stop “shop” for end users, clinicians and open-source developers to promote and develop open source assistive...
are important crops. Although coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
is an important cash crop, less than 2,000 hectares are planted with it.
No industry has been reported for this woreda, although 4 wholesalers, 4 retailers and 3 service providers are licensed in Meda Welabu. Gold, silver and platinum have been reported in this woreda, but have not been commercially developed. There were 9 Farmers Associations with 4,937 members and 4 Farmers Service Cooperatives with 913 members. Meda Welabu has 75 kilometers of dry-weather road, for an average road density of 8.6 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. About 13% of the total population has access to drinking water
Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia
Access to water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia is amongst the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire world. While access has increased substantially with funding from external aid, much still remains to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the share of people...
.
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. Together with Berbere
Berbere (woreda)
Berbere is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Berbere is bordered on the south by Mennana Harena Buluk, on the northwest by Goba, on the north by Sinanana Dinsho, on the northeast by Goro, and on the east by Guradamole; the Mena River separates it from...
and Gaserana Gololcha
Gaserana Gololcha
Gaserana Gololcha is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Gaserana Gololcha is bordered on the south by Ginir, on the southwest by Sinanana Dinsho, on the west by Agarfa, on the north by the Shebelle River which separates it from the Arsi Zone, on the...
, Meda Welabu became the new home for a total of 5219 heads of households and 19,758 family members.
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 85,661, of whom 42,321 were males and 43,340 were females; 2,567 or 3.00% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 13.5%. With an estimated area of 8,726.72 square kilometers, Meda Welabu has an estimated population density of 9.8 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 27.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 61,919, of whom 31,494 were men and 30,425 women; 1,434 or 2.32% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Meda Welabu 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...
(97.15%), the Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
(1.77%), 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...
(0.8%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.28% 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 96.67%, 1.89% spoke Somali
Somali language
The Somali language is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Its nearest relatives are Afar and Oromo. Somali is the best documented of the Cushitic languages, with academic studies beginning before 1900....
, and 1.37% spoke 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 0.07% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants 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...
, with 97.85% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 1.64% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.