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 River, 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. [1] Although coffee is an important cash crop, less than 2,000 hectares are planted with it. [2]
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. [1]
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. [3]
Demographics
The 2007 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 97,532, of whom 49,059 were men and 48,473 were women; 2,989 or 3.07% of its population were urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Muslim, with 97.35% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 1.6% of the population practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. [4]
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency 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. [5]
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. [6]
Gechi is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Buno Bedele 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. Gechi town is the administrative center of Gechi woreda. Borecha woreda was part of Gechi.
Dano is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Shewa Zone, Dano is bordered on the southwest by the Jimma Zone, on the north by Cheliya, and on the southeast by Nono; part of the boundary with the Jimma Zone is defined by the Gibe River. The major town in Dano is Sayo.
Daru labu is a woreda in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Located in the West Hararghe Zone, Daru labu is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the west by the Arsi Zone, on the northwest by Guba Koricha, on the north by the Habro, and on the east by Boke. Towns in Darolebu include Mechara and Micheta.
Boke is one of the Aanaas in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Part of the West Hararghe Zone, Boke is bordered on the south by the Shabelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the southwest by Darolebu, on the northwest by Habro, on the northeast by Kuni, and on the east by the Galetti River which separates it from the East Hararghe Zone. The major town in Boke is Boke Tiko.
Kuni is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Part of the West Hararghe Zone, Kuni is bordered on the south by Boke, on the west by Habro, on the northeast by Chiro, and on the east by the Galetti River, which separates it from the East Hararghe Zone.
Jimma Arjo is an woreda in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It shares the name of Oromo people clan, the Jimma Arjo. Part of the East Welega Zone, Jimma Arjo is bordered on the southwest by the Didessa River which separates it from the Illubabor Zone, on the northwest by Diga Leka, on the northeast by Guto Wayu, and on the southeast by Nunu Kumba. The administrative center of this woreda is Arjo.
Limmu Sakka is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named in part after the former kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea, whose territories included the area this woreda now covers. Part of the Jimma Zone, Limmu Sakka is bordered on the southwest by the Didessa River which separates it from the Illubabor Zone, on the northwest by the Misraq Welega Zone, on the northeast by the Gibe River which separates it from the Mirab Shewa Zone, and on the southeast by Limmu Kosa. The administrative center of the woreda is Atnago; other towns include Saqqa, the capital of the former kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea.
Gera is one of the 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. Part of the Jimma Zone, Gera is bordered on the south by the Gojeb River which separates it from the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the northwest by Sigmo, on the north by Setema, on the northeast by Gomma, and on the east by Seka Chekorsa. The administrative center of this woreda is Chira; other towns in Gera include Cheriko and Dusta.
Sude is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone, Sude is bordered on the south by Robe, on the southwest by Tena, on the west by Dodotana Sire, on the northwest by Jeju, on the north by Merti, on the northeast by Chole and on the southeast by Amigna. The administrative center of the woreda is Kula.
Seru is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. It is named after the Aanaa capital, Seru. Part of the Arsi Zone, Seru is bordered on the south and east by the Shebelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the west by the Wabe River which separates it from Robe, on the north by Aminya, and on the northeast by the West Hararghe Zone. Woreda of Bale Gasegar was separated form Seru.
Robe is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. It is named after the Robe River, 80 kilometers of which flows through the woreda. Part of the Arsi Zone, Robe is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the southwest by Sherka, on the west by Tena, on the north by Sude, on the northeast by Amigna, and on the east by Seru. The administrative center of the woreda is Robe; other towns in Robe include Habe and Sedika.
Kersa is Districts of Ethiopia in the East Hararghe Zone of the Oromia, Ethiopia. It is named after a river that flows through it, the Kersa. The district is bordered on the south by Bedeno, on the west by Meta, on the north by Dire Dawa, on the northeast by Haro Maya, and on the southeast by Kurfa Chele. The administrative center of the district is Kersa; other towns include Langey and Watar. Before modern kersa established the city mid 17 century the Arab trader exchange bartery clothes with potate and cow goat and sheep. This area is Richest uranium deposit pegmatite rock and pitblende type of uranium.but our people growth chat crop in these area there is sweet chat when chewing it's a good "mirqaana" but a great health influence in this society this mineral dangerous health problems.
Gololcha is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It was part of former Gololcha woreda what was divided for Gololcha and Gololcha woredas. Part of the East Bale Zone, Gololcha is bordered on the south by Ginir, on the southwest by Gasera, on the west by Agarfa, on the north by the Wabe Shebelle River which separates it from the Arsi Zone, on the northeast by Legehida, and on the east by Seweyna. The administrative center for the woreda is Jara.
Legehidha is one of the woredas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Legehidha is bordered on the south by Seweyna, on the southwest by Gololcha, and all other sides by the Shebelle River which separates this woreda from the West Hararghe Zone on the northwest, the East Hararghe Zone on the northeast and from the Somali Region on the east. The administrative center of the woreda is Beltu; other towns in Legehidha nearly Sheikh Hussein.
Ginir is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center of the woreda, Ginir. Part of the East 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 Gololcha, on the northeast by Seweyna, and on the east by Rayitu. Towns include Delo Serbo.
Delo Menna is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It was part of former Menna Angetu woreda what was separated into Delo Menna and Harena Buluk woredas, and it's part of the Bale Zone. Delo Menna is bordered on the south by Meda Welabu, on the west and northwest by Harena Buluk, on the north by Goba, on the northeast by Berbere, and on the east by Guradamole. The administrative center of this woreda is Menna
Nensebo is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the West Arsi 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 the east by Bale Zone. Towns in Nensebo include Werka.
Berbere is a woreda in Oromia Region, 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 Shinanana Dinsho and Goro. The administrative center of the woreda is Haro Dumal.
Liben is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the East Borana Zone, Liben is bordered on the west by Goro Dola, on the south by Gumi Eldalo, on the north by the Ganale Dorya River which separates it from Meda Welabu, and on the east by the Somali Region. Liben woreda surrounds the town of Negele Borana, which was separated from Liben.
Abaya is a woreda in the Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It is part of former Gelana Abaya woreda what was divided for Abaya and Gelana woredas. Part of the Borena Zone, Gelana Abaya was bordered on the south by Hagere Mariam, and on the west, north and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR). Lake Abaya, on the western border, is divided between this woreda and the SNNPR. However, the Guji Oromo who live in Nechisar National Park are claimed to be administratively part of this woreda, in a kebele called "Irgansaa".
