Gola Oda Woreda Profile

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF GOLA ODA DISTRICT Physical Characteristics:- Having an area of 3,848.9km2 , the district is found in the south western part of East Harerge Zone. It is bordered by Bedeno, Meka Belo and Girawa districts as well as Bale and west Harerge Administrative zones (fig.5.). Gola Oda has one urban center, i.e., Burka town, district’s administrative center. Physiographically, it is characterized by plains, hills and valleys. Altitudinally, the district stretches between 500 and 1930 m.a.s.l. Sebero mountain (1933m) and Bereda Gota plain are the major land features in the district . The district is drained by Arer, Ramis, Deneba and Wabi-Shebele rivers as well as Gola, Tirtira, Obo and Doroba seasonal streams. Serveral springs are also available. Climatically, it is classified into woinadega (1%) and kolla (99%) zones. Calcic Cambisols, Chromic Vertisols, Vertic Cambisols, Calcaric Fluvisols and Mollic Andosols are the major soil types found in Gola Oda district. Woodland, juniperus, acacia and man made forests are available in the district. But there are no protected forests and wildlife conservation areas. However, warthog, spotted hyena, pig, antelope, lion and leopard are found in the district. Population:- The district had about 30,000 population, of which 27612 were rural (13763 females) and 2,435 were urban (1208 females) populations. Populations aged 0-14, 15-64 and 65+ years accounted for 47.0%, 52.2% and 0.8% respectively. Average family sizes for rural and urban center were 4.6 and 4.2 persons respectively (1994 Population and Housing Census result). The crude population density is estimated at 8 persons per km2. Agriculture:- The 1995/96 estimated land use pattern revealed that 3.5%, 7.6% and 22.1% of the district’s total area were arable, pasture and forest lands respectively, while the remaining was attributed to built-up, degraded and other areas. There were 22 Farmers’ Associations with 6011 member farmers (636 females). There was no Service Cooperative in the district. The majority of the farmers are pastoralists. Average number of farm plots and farm oxen holding sizes per farmer household were 1.5 and 1.2 respectively. About 10% of the farmers were without farm ox. Sorghum, haricot bean, maize and groundnut are widely cultivated crops in the district. About 56 quintals of fertilizers (Urea 3 quintals), 10 quintals of improved seeds and 88 liters of pesticides were distributed to the farmers in the indicated year. These indicate low adoption of modern agricultural inputs in the district. Application of manure, chemical fertilizers, short fallowing and crop rotation methods are employed to maintain soil fertility. Army worm, stalk borer, grass hopper, weevils and rodents are the major crop pests. There were 174,545 cattle, 4,131 goats, 5,851 sheep, 8,885 asses, 42,886 camels and 9,943 poultry in the district . Anthrax, blackleg, pasteurelosis and orf disease are commonly prevalent livestock diseases. About 56707 and 3093 livestock were vaccinated and treated against different diseases respectively. Mining and Industry:- There were no identified mineral deposits and mining activity in the district. As to industry, only 4 flourmills were available. They provided employment opportunities for 14 persons. Trade and Tourism:- There were 37 registered business organizations (wholesalers, retailers and service renders) in the district. On the other hand, there were no known local cash crops and identified tourist attraction sites in the district. Services:- Except a few km dry weather road, all weather road, telephone, fuel station, electric light and post office services as well as financial institutions were not available in the district. Rivers, ponds and wells are the major sources of drinking water in order of their importance. Only about 9.4%, 18.5% and 26.5% of the total, urban and rural populations of the district were supplied with potable water in the indicated year. Firewood, charcoal, animals dung and agri-wastes are the major sources of domestic energy supply. There were 5 elementary schools with 973 students (103 females) and 14 teaching staffs (3 females) in the district. About 36.3% of the total students had left the school before the end of academic year. Students’ participation rate in elementary school was 17.8%. Likewise, 3 clinics and 2 rural drug vendors with 7 health assistants, and one veterinary clinic as well as 2 health posts with 7 veterinary personnel were available in Gola Oda. Development Activities:- Constructions of 3 clinics, 2 DA houses and one elementary school, development of 6 water wells and one spring, and health and water rehabilitation project (by SCFUK) were some of the major ongoing development activities in the district. Problems and potentials:- Unreliable occurrence of rainfall, low adoption of modern agricultural inputs, lack of credit facilities, shortage of schools (mainly lack of junior and senior high schools), health institutions, veterinary services and potable water supply, backward infrastructural facilities and deterioration of soil fertility and forest resources are the major problems in the district. However, the district has large tracts of irrigable land, large potentials of underground water and incense.