Gindabarat (formerly known as: Kuttaayee-Liiban ) is one of theworedas in theOromia Region ofEthiopia. The district is marginal within the central-highlands of Ethiopia, being isolated geographically by lowland gorges and rivers which physically separate it from all but one neighboring district (Abuna Gindabarat), due to a poor road network. Part of theWest Shewa Zone, Gindabarat is bordered on the south byJeldu, on the southwest byAmbo, on the west by theGuder River which separates it from theHoro Guduru Welega Zone, on the north by theAbay River which separates it from theAmhara Region, on the east by theMuger River which separates it from theNorth Shewa Zone, and on the southeast byMeta Robi. The major town in Gindabarat isKachise (also called Kachisi).Abuna Gindabarat woreda was separated from Gindabarat.
This woreda is divided into two agro-ecological zones, locally calledbadda, or highland (temperate), which comprises 40% of the total area and has an altitude ranging between 1,500 and 2,604 metres (4,921 and 8,543 ft) above sea level, andbadda-dare, or midland (moist subtropical), which comprises 60% and has an altitude between 1,000 and 1,500 metres (3,300 and 4,900 ft) above sea level. Thebadda agro-ecological zone is much cooler and receives more rainfall than thebadda-dare. The district topography includes plateau, hilly and sometimes steep slopes. It has low rainfall variability with 12.1% coefficient of variation, and receive most rainfall during long rainy season (June to September).[1] The cultivated area covers 40.8% of the woreda (of which 32.7% of the total area is planted in annual crops), while 36.1% is pasture, 1.3%forest, 9% shrubland, 8.8% degraded on non-arable land, 2% is covered by bodies of water, and all other categories of land makes up the remaining 2%.[2] Major crops (cereal and pulse) in order of total production includes: Teff, maize, sorghum, wheat, faba bean, barley and field peas.[3] In 1999, 55 kilometres (34 mi) of gravel road were built in Gindabarat by students, farmers and civil servants from the area.[4]
The 2007 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 104,595, of whom 52,726 were men and 51,869 were women; 11,082 or 10.56% of its population were urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants wereProtestant, with 55.96% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 34.12% of the population said they practisedEthiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 9.18% practiced traditional religions.[5]
Based on figures published by theCentral Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 204,413, of whom 105,369 are men and 99,044 are women; 7,805 or 3.82% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 2,417.82 square kilometers, Gindabarat has an estimated population density of 84.5 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 152.8.[6]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 147,437, of whom 71,799 were men and 75,638 women; 4,363 or 2.96% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Gindabarat were theOromo (97.28%), and theAmhara (2.1%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.71% of the population. TheOromo language was spoken as a first language by 98.36%, and 1.58% spokeAmharic; the remaining 0.06% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professedEthiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 53.3% of the population reporting they practiced that beliefs, wh4.58% practiced traditional beliefs, and 21.44% of the population said they wereProtestant.[7]
9°30′N37°50′E / 9.500°N 37.833°E /9.500; 37.833
