SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF SEKORU DISTRICT

Physical Characteristics:-     Sekoru district is found in the eastern part of Jimma Zone. It has an area of 925.1 km2 and 2 urban centers, including Sekoru town i.e., district’s administrative center. Sekoru district shares common boundaries with Omo Nada and Tiro Afeta districts as well as Southern Ethiopian people’s Regional State (fig.9). Physiographically, it is characterized by dissected plateaus, hills, contains (ali Shashema, Ali Derar, Kumbi, etc.), plains (Tiro Shashema, Doyo Kobota, etc areas) and valleys (Gilgel Gebe and Gibe). Altitudinally, the district extends between 1160 and 2940 m.a.s.l. Gibe, Gilgel Gibe, Kawar, etc. perennial rivers as well as Melka Luku and other seasonal streams are flowing through the district. Climatically it is classified into dega (10%), woinadega (60%) and kolla (30%) zones. Orthic Acrisols and Dystric Nitosols are the major soil types found in Sekoru. High forest, woodland, riverine, bush and shrub, and man made forests are available in the district. Abelti-Gibe state forest (15,900 ha) is found in Sekoru district. But there is no wildlife conservation area. However, baboon, colossus monkey, lion, antelope, warthog, and porcupine are found in the district.

Population:-        Sekoru had about 118,970 population, of which 109,.165 were rural (54,624 females) and 9,806 were urban (5,111 females) populations (projected from the 1994 Population and Housing census result). About 45.1%, 52.1% and 2.7% of the total population were young, economical active and old age respectively. Average family sizes for rural and urban area were 4.7 and 4.6 persons respectively. The district’s crude population density is estimated at 129 persons per km2.

Agriculture:-       In the year understudy, about 36.6%, 16.8% and 17.2% of the district’s area were arable (30.8% was under cultivation), grazing and forest (including bush and shrub) lands respectively, while the remaining was occupied by degraded, built-up and other areas. There were 36 Farmers’ Associations and 8 Service Cooperatives with the same member farmers, i.e. 14,161 (653 females) in the district. Average farmland and farm oxen holding sizes per farmer household were 2.01 ha and 1.0 ox respectively. About 31% of the farmers were without single farm ox in the mentioned year. Teff, maize, sorghum, horse bean, haricot bean, barley and field pea are the most widely cultivated crops. On the other hand, the major crop pests are aphids, stalk borer, shoot fly, weevils, rat, ape, pig, rodent and porcupine. Application of manure, chemical fertilizers, crop rotation and fallowing methods are largely employed to maintain soil fertility. About 8,697 quintals of chemical fertilizers (448 quintals of Urea), 63 quintals of improved seeds, 510 kg insecticides and 397 kg herbicides were distributed to the farmers through the district’s Agricultural Development Office. Sekoru had 43,431 cattle, 5,369 sheep, 6,318 goats, 399 mules, 191 horses, 1,389 donkeys and 32,579 poultry in the indicated Blackleg, pasteurelosis, anthrax, tryanosomiasis, and internal and external parasites are common prevalent livestock diseases. In the year under consideration, about 35,660 and 16,563 livestock were vaccinated and treated against different diseases respectively.

Mining and Industry:-           There was no mining activity of any mineral in the district. But iron available mineral deposits include clay and sand. As to industry, there were 21 grain mills and 2 office and household furniture in Sekoru district.

Trade and Tourism:-    In the year investigation, there were some retail traders, service rendering small shops, etc. In Sekoru district. As to locally marketable items, coffee and teff are the major ones. Regarding tourism, Gibe river gorge and several waterfalls as well as attractive scenery of Abele mountain peak are the valuable potentials for the development of tourist industry in the district.

Services:-            There were no gravel and dry weather roads as well as any financial institution Sekoru except Addis Ababa-Mimma main road that crosses the district and district’s Finance Office respectively. On the other hand, three telephone stations (one semi automatic and 2 manual), 2 agent post offices, hydro electric light service (at Sekoru and Deneba towns) and a fuel station were available in the district. Locally protected springs, rivers and developed springs are the major sources of drinking water in order of their importance. Only about 72.0% of the urban and 10.1% of the rural populations had access to potable water. Similarly, firewood, animals dung, charcoal and kerosene are the major sources of domestic energy supply in order of their usage. The district had 16 elementary, 2 junior secondary and one senior high (7-10) school with 6046 students (2,131 females) and 220 teaching staffs (65 females). Dropped out students accounted for 24.7% of the total registered students in the stated academic year. Similarly, 6 clinics and 4 rural drug vendors with 11 health assistants, and a veterinary clinic and 3 health posts were available in the district.

Development Activities:-      The constructions of one health center and one elementary school (by ODA) were some of the major on going development projects in the district.

Problems and Potentials:-    Prevalence of livestock and malaria diseases, shortage of farm oxen, schools (mainly lack of senior high school), health institutions, veterinary services and potable water supply, serious soil erosion due to the steep slope of the area and backward infrastructural facilities are some of the major problems in the distract. On the other hand, the district has large potentials of cultivable and irritable lands as well as water resources.