Seweyna
Encyclopedia
Seweyna is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Located in the eastern part of the Bale Zone
, Seweyna is bordered on the south by Raytu
, on the southwest by Ginir
, on the northwest by Gaserana Gololcha
, on the north by Legehida
, and on the east by the Somali Region
. Towns in Seweyna include Hada.
or heavy vegetation, and the remaining 5.2% is considered degraded, mountainous or otherwise unusable. Corn
, sorghum
, wheat
and teff
are important local crops. Raising livestock is another important source of food and income, which include in order of importance shoats, camels and cattle; during the months of May and June, inhabitants of the western kebele
s who rely more on raising crops, collect and consume a wild fruit called kulkal (known locally as Shonka). Seweyna is considered a chronically food insecure woreda, and food aid is received irrespective of their income levels.
Industry in the woreda includes 2 grain mills created with funding from the Regional government, as well as one wholesaler and 18 retailers. There were 19 Farmers Associations with 7750 members and no Farmers Service Cooperatives. Seweyna has no kilometers of road. About 10% of the total population has access to drinking water
.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 49,381, of whom 24,750 were males and 24,631 were females; 301 or 0.61% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 13.5%. With an estimated area of 8,108.44 square kilometers, Seweyna has an estimated population density of 6.1 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 35,769, of whom 17,934 were men and 17,835 women; 562 or 1.57% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Seweyna were the Oromo
(89.44%), and the Somali
(7.56%); all other ethnic groups made up 3% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 91.58%, and 8.4% spoke Somali
; the remaining 0.02% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim
, with 99.91% of the population having reported they practiced that belief.
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...
. Located in the eastern 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...
, Seweyna is bordered on the south by Raytu
Raytu
Raytu is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Located in the eastern part of the Bale Zone, Raytu is bordered on the south by the Somali Region, on the west by Ginir, and on the north and east by Seweyna; the Gestro River defines the southwest boundary...
, on the southwest by Ginir
Ginir (woreda)
Ginir is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center of the woreda, Ginir. Part of the Bale Zone, Ginir is bordered on the south by the Gestro River which separates it from Goro, on the west by Sinanana Dinsho, on the northwest by Gaserana...
, on the northwest by 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...
, on the north by Legehida
Legehida
Legehida is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Legehida is bordered on the south by Seweyna, on the southwest by Gaserana Gololcha, and all other sides by the Shebelle River which separates this woreda from the Mirab Hararghe Zone on the northwest, the...
, and on the east by the Somali Region
Somali Region
Somali Region ; is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of the same name. The capital of Somali State is Jijiga...
. Towns in Seweyna include Hada.
Overview
The geography of this woreda is characterized by a dry plain in the western part and lowland in the east marked by low escarpments, flood plains and lava flows. Elevations extend from 400 to 1850 meters above sea level. Major rivers include the Mekenisa, Dare, Manduba and Kurkura. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 24.4% is arable or cultivable, 46.3% pasture, 24.1% forestForestry 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...
or heavy vegetation, and the remaining 5.2% is considered degraded, mountainous or otherwise unusable. 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...
, 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...
and 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....
are important local crops. Raising livestock is another important source of food and income, which include in order of importance shoats, camels and cattle; during the months of May and June, inhabitants of the western kebele
Kebele
A kebele is the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia similar to ward, a neighbourhood or a localized and delimited group of people...
s who rely more on raising crops, collect and consume a wild fruit called kulkal (known locally as Shonka). Seweyna is considered a chronically food insecure woreda, and food aid is received irrespective of their income levels.
Industry in the woreda includes 2 grain mills created with funding from the Regional government, as well as one wholesaler and 18 retailers. There were 19 Farmers Associations with 7750 members and no Farmers Service Cooperatives. Seweyna has no kilometers of road. About 10% 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...
.
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 49,381, of whom 24,750 were males and 24,631 were females; 301 or 0.61% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 13.5%. With an estimated area of 8,108.44 square kilometers, Seweyna has an estimated population density of 6.1 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 35,769, of whom 17,934 were men and 17,835 women; 562 or 1.57% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Seweyna 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...
(89.44%), and 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...
(7.56%); all other ethnic groups made up 3% 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 91.58%, and 8.4% 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....
; the remaining 0.02% 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 99.91% of the population having reported they practiced that belief.