Misraq Gojjam Zone
Encyclopedia
Misraq Gojjam is a Zone in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Misraq Gojjam is named after the former province of Gojjam
.
Misraq Gojjam is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region
, on the west by Mirab Gojjam
, on the north by Debub Gondar
, and on the east by Debub Wollo
; the bend of the Abay River defines the Zone's northern, eastern and southern boundaries. Its highest point is Mount Choqa
(also known as Mount Birhan). Towns and cities in Misraq Gojjam include Bichena
, Debre Marqos
, Debre Werq
, and Mota
.
This Zone 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; no specific woredas in this Zone were identified in this program. Misraq Gojjam became the new home for a total of 20,000 heads of households and 80,000 total family members.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 2,153,937, and increase of 26.68% over the 1994 census, of whom 1,066,716 are men and 1,087,221 women; with an area of 14,004.47 square kilometers, Misraq Gojjam has a population density of 153.80. While 213,568 or 9.92% are urban inhabitants, a further 8 individuals are pastoralists. A total of 506,520 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.25 persons to a household, and 492,486 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 1,700,331 in 381,993 households, of whom 845,980 were men and 854,351 women; 145,295 or 8.55% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The largest ethnic group reported in Misraq Gojjam was the Amhara
(99.83%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.17% of the population. Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.88%; the remaining 0.12% spoke all other primary languages reported. 96.71% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 3.18% of the population said they were Muslim
.
According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank
memorandum, 8% of the inhabitants of Misraq Gojjam have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 24.2 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers), the average rural household has 1.1 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.75 for the Amhara Region) and the equivalent of 0.6 heads of livestock. 11.4% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 21%. 66% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 13% in secondary schools. 61% of the zone is exposed to malaria
, and 30% to Tsetse fly
. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 447.
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
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...
. Misraq Gojjam is named after the former province of Gojjam
Gojjam
Gojjam was a kingdom in the north-western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debre Marqos. This region is distinctive for lying entirely within the bend of the Abbay River from its outflow from Lake Tana to the Sudan...
.
Misraq Gojjam is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the west by Mirab Gojjam
Mirab Gojjam Zone
Mirab Gojjam is a Zone in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Mirab Gojjam is named after the former province of Gojjam was divided in to two administrative zones by EPRDF...
, on the north by Debub Gondar
Debub Gondar Zone
Debub Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This zone is named for the city of Gondar, which was the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, and has often been used as a name for the local province....
, and on the east by Debub Wollo
Debub Wollo Zone
Debub Wollo is one of 10 Zones in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. It acquired its name from the former province of Wollo.Debub Wollo is bordered on the south by Semien Shewa and the Oromia Region, on the west by Mirab Gojjam, on the northwest by Debub Gondar, on the north by Semien Wollo and on the...
; the bend of the Abay River defines the Zone's northern, eastern and southern boundaries. Its highest point is Mount Choqa
Mount Choqa
Mount Choqa is one of the highest mountains of Gojjam, a region of Ethiopia located south of Lake Tana. The range lacks forests and its slopes are cultivated up to an elevation of 3,000 metres above sea level....
(also known as Mount Birhan). Towns and cities in Misraq Gojjam include Bichena
Bichena
Bichena is a town in west-central Ethiopia. Located in the Misraq Gojjam Zone of the Amhara Region on the hillside overlooking the Abay River, it has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2541 meters above sea level. It is the administrative center of Enemay woreda.-History:Bichena was...
, Debre Marqos
Debre Marqos
Debre Marqos is a city and woreda in east-central Ethiopia. Located in the Misraq Gojjam Zone of the Amhara Region, it has a latitude and longitude of , and an elevation of 2,446 meters. The city is named Debre Marqos after its principal church, which was constructed in 1869 and dedicated to St....
, Debre Werq
Debre Werq
Debre Werq is a town in western Ethiopia. Located in the Misraq Gojjam Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 2489 meters above sea level. It is known for its church and a hilltop monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, around which the community...
, and Mota
Mota, Ethiopia
Mota is a town in south west Ethiopia. Located in the Misraq Gojjam Zone of the Amhara Region, and on the secondary road that links Dejen with Bahir Dar overlooking the Abay River, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 2,487 meters above sea level.One local landmark is...
.
This Zone 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 areas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas; no specific woredas in this Zone were identified in this program. Misraq Gojjam became the new home for a total of 20,000 heads of households and 80,000 total family members.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted 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...
of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 2,153,937, and increase of 26.68% over the 1994 census, of whom 1,066,716 are men and 1,087,221 women; with an area of 14,004.47 square kilometers, Misraq Gojjam has a population density of 153.80. While 213,568 or 9.92% are urban inhabitants, a further 8 individuals are pastoralists. A total of 506,520 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.25 persons to a household, and 492,486 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 1,700,331 in 381,993 households, of whom 845,980 were men and 854,351 women; 145,295 or 8.55% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The largest ethnic group reported in Misraq Gojjam was 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...
(99.83%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.17% of the population. Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
was spoken as a first language by 99.88%; the remaining 0.12% spoke all other primary languages reported. 96.71% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 3.18% of the population said they were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
.
According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
memorandum, 8% of the inhabitants of Misraq Gojjam have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 24.2 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers), the average rural household has 1.1 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.75 for the Amhara Region) and the equivalent of 0.6 heads of livestock. 11.4% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 21%. 66% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 13% in secondary schools. 61% of the zone is exposed to malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, and 30% to Tsetse fly
Tsetse fly
Tsetse , sometimes spelled tzetze and also known as tik-tik flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary biological vectors of trypanosomes, which...
. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 447.