Tach Gayint
Encyclopedia
Tach Gayint is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Debub Gondar Zone
, Tach Gayint is bordered on the south by the Bashilo River
which separates it from the Debub Wollo Zone
, on the west by Simada
, on the north by Lay Gayint
, and on the east by the Checheho River
which separates it from the Semien Wollo Zone
. The major town in Tach Gayint is Arb Gebeya.
(42,873 quintals harvested in 2005), barley (31,134 quintals) and wheat (20,027 quintals); pulses such as fava beans (5,174 quintals), field peas (3,576 quintals), haricot beans (3,037 quintals), and chick peas (1,334 quintals); vegetables such as potatoes (18,874 quintals); banana
s (1,637 quintals) and hops (2,163 quintals).
Due to the extreme poverty endemic in this woreda, Sileshi Tessera noted the importance of local social institutions, which redistributes food to needy members. The most important -- and popular -- is the iddir, which was adopted in Tach Gayint only six or seven years before Sileshi's study. Other social institutions present include the mahiber, iqqub, and the sebeka-gubae; the last two also provides cash funds to needy members. On the other hand, modern assistance institutions, for example microfinance
programs, have proven less successful.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 101,956, an increase of 21.15% over the 1994 census, of whom 51,041 are men and 50,915 women; 8,000 or 7.85% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 825.30 square kilometers, Tach Gayint has a population density of 123.54, which is less than the Zone average of 145.56 persons per square kilometer. A total of 23,664 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.31 persons to a household, and 22,843 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 84,158 in 18,813 households, of whom 42,593 were men and 41,565 were women; 2,675 or 3.18% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Tach Gayint was the Amhara
(99.87%). Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.94%. The majority of the population practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity with 92.2% professing that belief, while 7.74% of the population said they were Muslim
.
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 Amhara Region
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...
. Part of the Debub Gondar Zone
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....
, Tach Gayint is bordered on the south by the Bashilo River
Bashilo River
The Bashilo River is located in Ethiopia. Known for its canyon, which one source describes as almost as extensive as the canyon of its parent the Abay, also known as the Blue Nile, the river originates just west of Kutaber in the Amhara Region, flowing first to the northwest to where the Tergiya...
which separates it from the Debub Wollo Zone
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...
, on the west by Simada
Simada
Simada is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Gondar Zone, Simada is bordered on the southeast by the Bashilo River which separates it from the Debub Wollo Zone, on the southwest by the Abay River which separates it from the Misraq Gojjam Zone, on the...
, on the north by Lay Gayint
Lay Gayint
Lay Gayint is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Gondar Zone, Lay Gayint is bordered on the south by Tach Gayint, on the southwest by Este, on the west by Farta, on the north by Ebenat, and on the east by the Wag Hemra Zone...
, and on the east by the Checheho River
Checheho River
The Checheho River is a small river located in north-central Ethiopia. Part of the watershed of the Abay River, it rises to the east of Debre Zebit to flow south to join the Bashilo River. Its major tributary is the Zhit'a, which enters the Checheho on the left side....
which separates it from the Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. Semien Wollo acquired its name from the former province of Wollo. Semien Wollo is bordered on the south by Debub Wollo, on the west by Debub Gondar, on the north by Wag Hemra, and on the northeast and east by the Afar Region; part of its...
. The major town in Tach Gayint is Arb Gebeya.
Overview
The elevations of this woreda range from 750 to 2800 meters above sea level; about 23% is classified lowland, 63% mid-level, and 23.7% uplands. Rivers and streams include the Futan. The topography of Tach Gayint is distinguished by gullies and rugged terrain covering 54% of its surface, while mountains cover 23% and plains 22%. Above all a significant portion of the arable land is degraded. Deforestation is a serious problem in Tach Gayint, and it has been increasing rapidly. Once all of the trees had been cut for firewood, locals then turned to extracting the roots, which has critically damaged the soil in this woreda. As Sileshi Tessera writes in his study, "Tach Gayint has been virtually stripped of vegetation." A sample survey reveals that the total area of berha (farmland apart from the homestead) is 31,386.37 hectares (31.5%), common grazing land is 8,107.11 hectares (8.1%) and of wojed (gardens around the homestead) is 46,174.03 hectares (46.4%). The major agricultural crops in Tach Gayint include: cereals such as teffTeff
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....
(42,873 quintals harvested in 2005), barley (31,134 quintals) and wheat (20,027 quintals); pulses such as fava beans (5,174 quintals), field peas (3,576 quintals), haricot beans (3,037 quintals), and chick peas (1,334 quintals); vegetables such as potatoes (18,874 quintals); banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s (1,637 quintals) and hops (2,163 quintals).
Due to the extreme poverty endemic in this woreda, Sileshi Tessera noted the importance of local social institutions, which redistributes food to needy members. The most important -- and popular -- is the iddir, which was adopted in Tach Gayint only six or seven years before Sileshi's study. Other social institutions present include the mahiber, iqqub, and the sebeka-gubae; the last two also provides cash funds to needy members. On the other hand, modern assistance institutions, for example microfinance
Microfinance
Microfinance is the provision of financial services to low-income clients or solidarity lending groups including consumers and the self-employed, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services....
programs, have proven less successful.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 national 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 woreda has a total population of 101,956, an increase of 21.15% over the 1994 census, of whom 51,041 are men and 50,915 women; 8,000 or 7.85% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 825.30 square kilometers, Tach Gayint has a population density of 123.54, which is less than the Zone average of 145.56 persons per square kilometer. A total of 23,664 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.31 persons to a household, and 22,843 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 84,158 in 18,813 households, of whom 42,593 were men and 41,565 were women; 2,675 or 3.18% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Tach Gayint 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...
(99.87%). 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 99.94%. The majority of the population practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity with 92.2% professing that belief, while 7.74% 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...
.