Overview
The altitude of this woreda ranges from 1200 to 4000 meters above sea level. Rivers include 45 kilometers of the Hulull and 40 kilometers of the Wabe; the gorge of the Wabe is a local landmark. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 51.1% is arable or cultivable, 4.9% pasture, 16.3% forest, and the remaining 27.7% is considered swampy, mountainous or otherwise unusable. Oil seeds, specifically flax, nueg and rape seed, are important cash crops; Robe is one of the major producers of oil seeds in the Zone. [2]
Flax, also known as common flax or linseed, is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is a food and fiber crop cultivated in cooler regions of the world. Textiles made from flax are known in the Western countries as linen, and traditionally used for bed sheets, underclothes, and table linen. Its oil is known as linseed oil. In addition to referring to the plant itself, the word "flax" may refer to the unspun fibers of the flax plant. The plant species is known only as a cultivated plant, and appears to have been domesticated just once from the wild species Linum bienne, called pale flax
Guizotia abyssinica is an erect, stout, branched annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed. Its cultivation originated in the Ethiopian highlands, and has spread to other parts of Ethiopia. Common names include noog/nug ; niger, nyger, nyjer, or niger seed ; ramtil or ramtilla; inga seed; and blackseed.
Industry in the woreda includes 38 small-scale industries employing 93 persons, which include 38 grain mills. Other commercial activity consists of 1160 registered businesses of which 32.8% are wholesalers, 42.2% retailers and 19% service providers. There were 28 Farmers Associations with 15,116 members and 10 Farmers Service Cooperatives with 14,471 members. Robe has 75 kilometers of feeder roads, [3] 36 kilometers of dry-weather and 44 of all-weather road, for an average of road density of 117 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers; 54 kilometers of rural road are under construction. About 19.5% of the total population has access to drinking water; a water supply project is under construction. [2]
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 foreign aid, much still remains to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the share of people without access to water and sanitation by 2015, to improve sustainability and to improve service quality.
Demographics
The 2007 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 165,210, of whom 83,129 were men and 82,081 were women; 20,680 or 12.52% of its population were urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Muslim, with 61.78% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 37.77% of the population practised Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. [4]
Islam was in 2007 the second largest religion in Ethiopia with over 33.9% of the population. The faith arrived in Ethiopia at an early date, shortly before the hijira.
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 168,043, of whom 84,551 were males and 83,492 were females; 22,947 or 13.66% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 1,322.50 square kilometers, Robe has an estimated population density of 127.1 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 132.2. [5]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 118,457, of whom 59,067 were men and 59,390 women; 12,847 or 10.85% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Robe were the Oromo (86.11%), the Amhara (11.25%), and the Soddo Gurage people (1.39%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.25% of the population. Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 84.15%, and 15.22% spoke Amharic; the remaining 0.63% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim, with 59.23% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 40.41% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. [6]
The Oromo people are a Cushitic ethnic group inhabiting Ethiopia. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia and represent 34.5% of Ethiopia's population. Oromos speak the Oromo language as a mother tongue, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. The word Oromo appeared in European literature for the first time in 1893 and slowly became common in the second half of the 20th century.
Amharas are a Semitic ethnic group traditionally inhabiting parts of the northern and central highlands of Ethiopia, particularly in Addis Ababa and the Amhara Region. According to the 2007 national census, Amharas numbered 19,867,817 individuals, comprising 26.9% of Ethiopia's population and they are mostly Orthodox Christians members of Ethiopian Orthodox Church. They are also found within the Ethiopian expatriate community, particularly in North America. They speak Amharic, an Afro-Asiatic language of the Semitic branch, a member of the Ethiosemitic group, which serves as the official language of Ethiopia.
Soddo is a Gurage language spoken by a quarter million people in southeastern Ethiopia. It is an Ethiopian Semitic language of the Northern Gurage subfamily. Its native speakers, the Soddo Gurage people (Kistane), live predominantly in the Soddo district of the Gurage Zone.
Jeju is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone, Jeju is bordered by Dodotana Sire to the west, the Misraq Shewa Zone to the north, Merti to the east, and Sude to the south. Its administrative centre is Arboye, located 168 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa. Other towns in this woreda include Bolo.
Kofele is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center of the woreda, Kofele. Part of the Mirab Arsi Zone, Kofele is bordered on the south by the Kokosa, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, on the northwest by the Shashamene Zuria, on the north by Kore, on the east by Gedeb Asasa, and on the south east by Dodola. Other towns in Kofele include Wabe Gefersa.
Fentale is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraq Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Fentale is bordered on the southeast by the Arsi Zone, on the southwest by Boset, on the northwest by the Amhara Region, and on the northeast by the Afar Region. The administrative center of Fentale is Metehara; other towns include Haroo Adii.
Boset is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraq Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Boset is bordered on the south by the Arsi Zone, on the west by the Awash River which separates it from Adama, on the north by the Amhara Region, and on the east by Fentale. The administrative center of the woreda is Welenchiti; other towns in Boset include Bofe, Bole and Doni.
Adami Tullu and Jido Kombolcha is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraq Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Adami Tullu and Jido Kombolcha is bordered on the south by Mirab Arsi Zone with which it shares the shores of Lakes Abijatta and Langano, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the north by Dugda Bora, on the northeast by Lake Zway, and on the east by the Arsi Zone. The main town of woreda is Adami Tullu; other towns include Abosa, Bulbulla, and Jido.
Arsi Negele is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after its administrative center, Arsi Negele. Part of the Mirab Arsi Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Arsi Negele is bordered on the south by Shashamene Zuria, on the southwest by Lake Shala which separates it from Shala, on the west from the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the north by Misraq Shewa with which it shares the shores of Lakes Abijatta and Langano, and on the east by the Arsi Zone.
Dodota is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone it is located in the Great Rift Valley. It is part of former Dodotana Sire woreda what was divided for Dodota and Sire woredas. Dodotana Sire is bordered on the south by Tena, on the southwest by Hitosa, on the north by the Misraq Shewa Zone, on the east by Jeju, and on the southeast by Sude. The administrative center for the woreda is Dera; other towns include Awash Melkasa.
Ziway Dugda is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Ziway Dugda is bordered on the south by Munesa, on the west and north by the Misraq Shewa Zone, on the east by Hitosa, and on the southeast by Tiyo; also on its western edge is Lake Zway, whose area this woreda shares with the Misraw Shewa Zone. The administrative center for this woreda is Ogolcho; other settlements include Chefe Jile.
Hitosa is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Woreda of Lude Hitosa was separated from Hitosa. Part of the Arsi Zone, Hitosa is bordered on the south by Digeluna Tijo, on the southwest by Tiyo, on the west by Ziway Dugda, on the northwest by the Misraq Shewa Zone, on the northeast by Dodotana Sire, and on the east by Tena. The administrative center of the woreda is Iteya; other towns include Borujawi and Ligaba.
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 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the woreda 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 Amigna, and on the northeast by the Mirab (West) Hararghe Zone. Woreda of Bale Gasegar was separated form Seru.
Tena is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Diksis woreda was separated form Tena woreda. Part of the Arsi Zone, Tena is bordered on the south by Sherka, on the southwest by Bekoji, on the west by Digeluna Tijo, on the northwest by Hitosa, on the north by Dodotana Sire, on the northeast by Sude, and on the east by Robe. The administrative center of the woreda is Ticho; other towns in Tena include Kela.
Sherka is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Research by Ulrich Braukämper uncovered a local tradition that traced the origins of this woreda's name to an ancient Ethiopian province, Sharkha, which vanished as a political unit in the 16th century. Part of the Arsi Zone, Sherka is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the southwest by Bekoji, on the west by Digeluna Tijo, on the north by Tena, and on the east by Robe. Gobesa is the administrative center; other towns include Gado Guna.
Digeluna Tijo is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone, Digeluna Tijo is bordered on the south by Bekoji, on the southwest by Munesa, on the northwest by Tiyo, on the north by Hitosa, on the northeast by Tena, and on the east by Sherka. The administrative center of this woreda is Sagure; other towns include Tijo and Digelu.
Tiyo is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone, Tiyo is bordered on the south by Munesa, on the west by Ziway Dugda, on the northeast by Hitosa, and on the southeast by Digeluna Tijo. The administrative center of the woreda and Zone is Asella; other towns in Tiyo include Gonde.
Munesa is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Munesa is bordered on the south and west by the Mirab Arsi Zone and Lake Langano, on the northwest by Ziway Dugda, on the north by Tiyo, on the northeast by Digeluna Tijo, and on the east by Bekoji. The administrative center of the woreda is Kersa; other towns in Munesa include Ego.
Gedeb Asasa is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Arsi Zone, Gedeb Asasa is bordered on the south by the Dodola, on the west by Kofele, on the north west by Kore, and on the north and east by Bekoji. The administrative center of the woreda is Asasa.
Babille is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after one of the 12 major tribes of the Oromo people, the Babille Oromo. Part of the Misraq (East) Hararghe Zone, Babille is bordered on the south and east by the Somali Region, on the west by Fedis, and on the north by Gursum; the Fafen River defines a portion of Babille's eastern border. The administrative center of this woreda is Babille.
Agarfa is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia, named for its administrative center, Agarfa. Located in the northwestern corner of the Bale Zone, Agarfa is bordered on the south by Sinanana Dinsho, on the west by Mirab Arsi Zone, on the north by the Shabelle River which separates it from the Arsi Zone, and on the east by Gaserana Gololcha. Other towns in Agarfa include Ali.
Meda Welabu is one of the woredas 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 Guji Zone, on the northwest by Mirab Arsi Zone, 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.
