An Agro-Ecological History of Jardaga Jarte District, Horro Guduru Wallagga Zone, Ca. 1900-2000

Abstract

Jardaga Jarte is the area where the Maccaa Oromo have lived in all over the district starting from earlier. The compound name Jardaga Jarte was derived from two sources i.e., the place name Jardaga and Jarte. Jardaga is the place located in southern direction upto Laga Farso boundary between Horro and Jardaga Jarte, Garchi River between Abe Dongoro and Jardaga Jarte. Jarte is the name of place located in northern direction upto Abbay River. The Oromo people have dominated Jardaga Jarte District since the 16th century. However, for a long time, Jardaga Jarte has continuously attracted diverse groups of peoples since the late 19th century. The demographic features of the area greatly have been changed. In the post 1960s period there was a continious resettlement programme by diffirent Ethiopian regimes. The settlement was mainly from Shawa, Wollo, Gojjam and Tigrai. There was also a settlement in FDRE government; the settlers were from Hararge and Arsi areas. As a result of this settlement and traditional land use, the agro-ecology of Jardga Jarte was seriously affected.This thesis examines the agro-ecological history of Jardaga Jarte by focusing on the local information. It attempts to describe changes in the demography and landscape. It also gives attention on changes in population settlement pattern, land use pattern, crops types and vegetation types. It analyzes how the area was known for its teff, maize, barley, wheat and sorghum. It also describes the lack of infrastructure: lack of transportation system, absence of hospital, veterinary medicine for their livestock and lack of market for some remote areas of the peoples living in the district from their admnistrative town of Alibo. Farm tools and production technique are also a part of my study in this research. Backward technology and farming techniques greatly affect the peoples and their production.