Isara Tocha
Encyclopedia
Isara Tocha is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Dawro Zone
, Isara Tocha is bordered on the south by the Omo River
which separates this woreda from the Gamo Gofa Zone
, on the west by the Konta special woreda, on the north by the Gojeb River
which separates it from the Oromia Region
, on the east by Mareka Gena
, and on the southeast by Loma Bosa
. Towns in Isara Tocha include Bale and Tocha.
farmers cultivate the sloping land, leading to erosion and reduced soil fertility. Important food crops in this woreda include enset, sweet potatoes, taro
and beans, while important cash crops are maize
, teff
and pulses.
Isara Tocha was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
in 2004 as one of several woredas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas, becoming the new home for a total of 6800 heads of households and 26,640 total family members.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 131,553, of whom 67,555 were men and 63,998 were women; 4,556 or 3.46% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 1,838.60 square kilometers, Isara Tocha has an estimated population density of 71.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 156.5.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 92,667 of whom 45,109 were males and 47,558 were females; 2,514 or 2.71% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Isara Tocha were the Kullo (93.36%), the Konta (3.33%), the Kaffa (1.53%), and the Amhara
(1.19%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.59% of the population. Kullo is spoken as a first language by 94.38%, 3.15% Konta, and 1.82% speak Kafa
; the remaining 0.65% spoke all other primary languages reported. However, Ralph Siebert's local research in 1995 led him to believe that this woreda was predominantly inhabited by the Dawro people.
Concerning religious beliefs, the 1994 census reported that 60.68% of the population said they observed traditional religions, 34.33% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 4.55% were Protestants
.
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Part of the Dawro Zone
Dawro Zone
Dawro is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . it is named for the Welayta people, whose homeland lies in this Zone...
, Isara Tocha is bordered on the south by the Omo River
Omo River
The Omo River is an important river of southern Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya...
which separates this woreda from the Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It is named for the Gamo and Gofa peoples, whose homelands lie in this Zone...
, on the west by the Konta special woreda, on the north by the Gojeb River
Gojeb River
The Gojeb River is eastward-flowing tributary of the Omo River in Ethiopia. It rises in the mountains of Guma, flowing in almost a direct line its confluence with the Omo at....
which separates it from the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the east by Mareka Gena
Mareka Gena
Mareka Gena is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Omo Zone, Mareka Gena is a triangle-shaped area located south of the confluence of the Omo River and its east-flowing tributary the Gojeb River, bordered on the southeast...
, and on the southeast by Loma Bosa
Loma Bosa
Loma Bosa is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Loma Bosa is bordered on the south by the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by Isara Tocha, on the northwest by Mareka Gena, on the north by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, and on...
. Towns in Isara Tocha include Bale and Tocha.
Overview
Isara Tocha is part of a region characterized by hills, and is not suitable for grazing or cultivation, butfarmers cultivate the sloping land, leading to erosion and reduced soil fertility. Important food crops in this woreda include enset, sweet potatoes, taro
Taro
Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
and beans, while important cash crops are maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, teff
Teff
Eragrostis tef, known as teff, taf , or khak shir , is an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to the northern Ethiopian Highlands of Northeast Africa....
and pulses.
Isara Tocha was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the agricultural and rural development policies of Ethiopia on a Federal level...
in 2004 as one of several woredas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas, becoming the new home for a total of 6800 heads of households and 26,640 total family members.
Demographics
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 131,553, of whom 67,555 were men and 63,998 were women; 4,556 or 3.46% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 1,838.60 square kilometers, Isara Tocha has an estimated population density of 71.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 156.5.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 92,667 of whom 45,109 were males and 47,558 were females; 2,514 or 2.71% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Isara Tocha were the Kullo (93.36%), the Konta (3.33%), the Kaffa (1.53%), and the Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
(1.19%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.59% of the population. Kullo is spoken as a first language by 94.38%, 3.15% Konta, and 1.82% speak Kafa
Kafa language
Kaffa is an Afroasiatic language spoken in Ethiopia around Bonga in the Keficho Shekicho Zone. The language is also called Kafi nono.- Further reading :...
; the remaining 0.65% spoke all other primary languages reported. However, Ralph Siebert's local research in 1995 led him to believe that this woreda was predominantly inhabited by the Dawro people.
Concerning religious beliefs, the 1994 census reported that 60.68% of the population said they observed traditional religions, 34.33% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 4.55% were Protestants
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
.