Sigmo (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Sigmo is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. This woreda shares the same name as its administrative center, Sigmo. Located in the western part of the Jimma Zone
, Sigmo is bordered on the south by Gera
, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the north by the Illubabor Zone
, and on the east by Setema
.
, Bodeche and Atergeda. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 19.8% is arable or cultivable (18.4% was under annual crops), 1.5% pasture, 74.2% forest, and the remaining 4.5% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable. The forested areas include 118.4 hectares of the Sigmo-Geba State Forest. The Oromia Regional government considers Sigmo a "surplus crop-producing district". Teff
, corn
, sheep and goat
s are important cash crops.
Industry in the woreda includes 25 grain mills and 2 sawmill
s. There were 16 Farmers Associations with 10,017 members and 4 Farmers Service Cooperatives with 8,714 members. Sigmo has 18 kilometers of all-weather road
s, for an average road density of 15.1 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. About 62% of the urban and 9.6% of the rural population has access to drinking water
.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 99,998, of whom 50,355 are men and 49,643 are women; 3,494 or 3.49% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 1,192.03 square kilometers, Sigmo has an estimated population density of 83.9 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 150.6.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 72,190, of whom 36,020 were men and 36,170 women; 1,952 or 2.7% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Sigmo were the Oromo
(96.79%), and the Kafficho (2.15%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.06% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 97.91%, and 2.3% spoke Kafa
; the remaining 0.78% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim
, with 97.94% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 1.55% 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...
. This woreda shares the same name as its administrative center, Sigmo. Located in the western part of the Jimma Zone
Jimma Zone
Jimma is one of the 17 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Jimma is named for the former Kingdom of Jimma, which was absorbed into the former province of Kaffa in 1932...
, Sigmo is bordered on the south by Gera
Gera (woreda)
Gera is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the former Kingdom of Gera, whose territory was approximately the same as the modern woreda...
, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the north by 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...
, and on the east by Setema
Setema
Setema is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Located in the western part of the Jimma Zone, Setema is bordered on the south by Gera, on the west by Sigmo, on the north by the Illubabor Zone, and on the southeast by Gomma. The administrative center of the woreda is Gatira.-...
.
Overview
The altitude of this woreda ranges from 2080 to 2490 meters above sea level. Perennial rivers include the GebbaGebba River
The Gebba is a river of southwestern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Baro River, which is created when the Gebba joins the Birbir at latitude and longitude ....
, Bodeche and Atergeda. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 19.8% is arable or cultivable (18.4% was under annual crops), 1.5% pasture, 74.2% forest, and the remaining 4.5% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable. The forested areas include 118.4 hectares of the Sigmo-Geba State Forest. The Oromia Regional government considers Sigmo a "surplus crop-producing district". 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...
, sheep and goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s are important cash crops.
Industry in the woreda includes 25 grain mills and 2 sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s. There were 16 Farmers Associations with 10,017 members and 4 Farmers Service Cooperatives with 8,714 members. Sigmo has 18 kilometers of all-weather road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s, for an average road density of 15.1 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. About 62% of the urban and 9.6% of the rural 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 99,998, of whom 50,355 are men and 49,643 are women; 3,494 or 3.49% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 1,192.03 square kilometers, Sigmo has an estimated population density of 83.9 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 150.6.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 72,190, of whom 36,020 were men and 36,170 women; 1,952 or 2.7% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Sigmo 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...
(96.79%), and the Kafficho (2.15%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.06% 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 97.91%, and 2.3% spoke Kafa
Kafa language
Kaffa is an Afroasiatic language spoken in Ethiopia around Bonga in the Keficho Shekicho Zone. The language is also called Kafi nono.- Further reading :...
; the remaining 0.78% 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 97.94% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 1.55% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.