Mesela Woreda Profile

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF MESELA DISTRICT Physical Characteristics:- Possessing an area of 625 km2 , Mesela district is found in the eastern part of West Harerge Zone. It shares common boundaries with East Harerge Administrative zone, and Chiro the Tulo districts (fig.11,). Mesela town is its administrative center. Physiographically, the district is characterized by Chilalo Arba Gugu and Gara Muleta mountain chains, hills, Harar plateau, plains and valleys. Altitudinally, the district extends between 1300 ans 2400 m.a.s.l. The district is drained by Gobesa, Garba and Galeyti rivers as well as other intermittent streams. Climatically, it is classified into dega (20%), woinadega (60%) and kola (20%) zones. Rendzinas and chromic Luvisols are the major soil types found in the district. Podocarpus, juniperus and man made forests are available in Mesela. However, there were no government owned forests and reserved areas of wildlife conservation in the district.

Population:- The district had about 116,690 population, of which 113,151 were rural (55,260 females) populations. Young, economically active and old age populations accounted for 47.2%, 49.9% and 2.9% respectively. An average family size for rural area was 4.9 persons (1994) National Population and Housing Census result). The crude population density of the district estimated at 187 persons per km2. It is the second densely populated district from the zone next to Tulo district.

Agriculture:- In the mentioned year, about 31.6%, 3.8%, 0.1 and 13.8% of the district’s total area were cultivated (12.9% under perennial crops), pasture, forest, and shrubs and bushes respectively, while the rest was occupied by barren, built-up and other areas. There were 23 Farmers’ Associations and 2 Service Cooperatives with 6249 (307 females) and 4079 (281 females) member farmers respectively in the district. Average farmland and farm oxen holding sizes per farmer household were 0.74 ha and 0.51 farm ox. About 40% of the farmers were without farm ox. The most widely cultivated crops in the district are sorghum, maize, wheat, barley and haricot bean. Stalk borer, aphids, cut worm, termites, weevils and army worm are major crop pests in the district. Application of manure, fertilizers, crop rotation and short fallowing methods are practiced to maintain soil fertility. About 1700 quintals of fertilizers (Urea was 738 quintals), and 100 kg and 716 liters of pesticides have been utilized by about 11.2%, and 0.4% of the total farmers respectively in the district. About 33235 cattle, 1776 sheep, 5704 goats, 3891 equines, 79 camels, 37652 poultry and 5,161 traditional beehives were found in Mesela in the mentioned year. The most widely prevalent livestock diseases are anthrax, blackleg, pasteurelosis, internal and external parasites, and African horse disease. About 18320 (14990 cattle) and 3261 (2142 cattle) livestock were vaccinated and treated against different diseases respectively.

Mining and Industry:- The availability of marble, gold and cobalt deposits are known in the district. But the extraction of any type of mineral was not yet started. Regarding industry, some 10 grain mills (5 public) were available in the district.

Trade and Tourism:- There were 205 registered business organization (wholesalers retailers and service renders) in the district. Coffee and Chat are the majr local cash crops. About 1,158.40 tons of coffee were supplied to the central market in the indicated year. Currently, income generating tourist attraction sites were not available. But natural landscapes, cultural and historical sites, and the culture of the people are valuable potentials for the development of tourist industry.

Services:- Mesela had about 150 km dry weather road, which links with Chiro town (Zonal capital) and other six districts’ towns of the zone, 2 post offices and a diesel electric light service. Telephone service, financial institution, fuel station and hydro electric light service were not available in the district. In general, unprotected springs, rivers and ponds are the major sources of drinking water in order of their importance. About 4.3% of the total and almost the whole urban populations were supplied with protected springs and tap water respectively. Similarly, firewood, agri-wastes, animals dung and kerosene are the major sources of domestic energy supply order of their usage in Mesela. There were 22 elementary and one junior school with 8,610 registered students and 137 teaching staffs (39 females) in the district. In the academic year, percentage of dropped out students was about 33% of the total enrolled students. Students’ participation rate in primary school was 44%. One health center and 3 clinics with a nurse and 10 health assistants as well as 2 veterinary clinics with 6 veterinary personnel were found in the district.

Development Activities:- The construction of 3 clinics (one veterinary clinic), on health center, one junior school and 3 DA houses as well as the development of 2 springs were some of the major governmental and non-governmental ongoing development projects in the district.

Problems and Potentials:- Deforestation, shortage and delay in the supply of modern agricultural inputs, poor agricultural extension services, backward farming methods, shortage of farmland, farm oxen, schools (mainly lack of senior high school), health institutions, veterinary services and potable water supply, backward infrastructure facilities and widely prevalent livestock diseases are the major problems in the district. However, the district has large tracts of irrigable land and favourable natural conditions for the production of coffee and livestock rearing.