Ibantu

Ibantu is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraq Welega Zone, Ibantu is bordered on the south by Limmu, on the west and north by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, and on the east by Gida Kiremu. The administrative center of this woreda is Hinde.

Important peaks in this woreda include Mount Charem and Mount Atebala. Rivers include the Moger, Welmel and Boye. Notable attractions include the Tarbi Cave and Shara Falls. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 64.4% is arable or cultivable, 10.7% pasture, 16.6% forest, and the remaining 8.3% are grouped under other uses. [ [http://oromiagov.org/Socio%20Economic%20Profile/East%20Wellega/East%20Wellega.pdf "Socio-economic profile of the East Wellega Zone"] Government of Oromia Region (last accessed 1 August 2006).] . Coffee is an important cash crop of this woreda. Over 50 km² is planted with this crop. [ [http://www.oromiacoffeeunion.org/production.htm "Coffee Production"] Oromia Coffee Cooperative Union website]

Industry in the woreda includes one grain mill. Extracted minerals include gold, granite and clay. There were 11 Farmers Associations. Ibantu has 30 kilometers of dry weather road and no all-weather road, for an average of road density of 32.3 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. Since the completion of Hinde's water supply project in 1998, 6.2% of the total population has access to drinking water. [Government of Oromia Region, "Socio-economic profile."]

Demographics

Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 35,302, of whom 17,969 were males and 17,333 were females; 2,619 or 7.42% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 13.9%. With an estimated area of 928.91 square kilometers, Ibantu has an estimated population density of 38 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 81.4. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Tables B.3 and B.4]

This woreda was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2004 as one of several areas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas in the Misraq Welega Zone. Together with Amuru Jarte, Bila Seyo, Gida Kiremu, Jimma Arjo, Limmu and Nunu Kumba, Ibantu became the new home for a total of 22,462 heads of households and 112,310 total family members. [ [http://www.dppc.gov.et/downloadable/map/Thematic%20maps/resettlement/Resettlement%202004.pdf "Resettlement 2004"] , Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (accessed 26 November 2006)]

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