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]
Bedele Zuria is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Bedele Zuria 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 Zuria include Bedele. Bedele Zuria, Chewaka, Dabo Hana woredas and Bedele town were part of former Bedele woreda.
Gechi is one of the 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. Gechi is the major town in Gechi. Borecha woreda was part of Gechi.
Daru labu is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Part of 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 a Aanaa 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.
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.
Mana is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Jimma Zone, Mana is bordered on the south by Seka Chekorsa, on the west by Gomma, on the north by Limmu Kosa, and on the east by Kersa. The administrative center of this woreda is Yebu.
Setema is one of the 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.
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.
Bedeno is a Districts of Ethiopia in Oromia, Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center of the district, Bedeno. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Bedeno is bordered on the south by Gola Odana Meyumuluke, on the southwest by Malka Balo, on the west by Deder, on the northwest by Meta, on the north by Jarso, on the northeast by Kurfa Chele, and on the east by Girawa. Towns include Furda.
Gololcha is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It was part of former Gaserana Gololcha woreda what was divided for Gadera and Gololcha woredas. 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 northeast by Legehida, and on the east by Seweyna. The administrative center for the woreda is Jara.
Legehida is one of the woredas in the Oromia 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 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 Legehida include 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.
Goro is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It shares the same name as the administrative center of the woreda, Goro. Part of the Bale Zone, Goro is bordered on the southwest by Guradamole, on the west by Berbere, on the northwest by Sinanana Dinsho, on the northeast by Ginir, and on the southeast by the Somali Region; it is separated from Guradamole and Berbere by the Gestro River. Other towns in this woreda include Meliyu. Dawe Kachen woreda was separated from Goro.
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 one of the 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 Shinanana Dinsho and Goro. The administrative center of the woreda is Haro Dumal.
Guradamole is one of the 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 northeast by the Mena River which separates it from Goro, and on the southeast by the Somali Region. The administrative center of the woreda is Haro Dibe.
Adola is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. It is part of former Adolana Wadera woreda what was divided for Adola, Girja and Wadera woredas and Adola town. Part of the Guji Zone, Adolana Wadera was bordered on the south by Liben, on the southwest by Odo Shakiso, on the west by Bore, on the north by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, and on the east by the Bale Zone.
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".
