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The
Economy
Potentially,
Oromia is one of the richest countries in Africa. Agriculture is
the backbone of its economy. Still employing archaic methods,
subsistence agriculture is the means of livelihood for more than
90 per cent of the population. There are a variety of farm animals
and crop plants. Farm animals include cattle, sheep, goats,
donkeys, mules, horses, camels and chicken. The Cushitic speaking
communities of this region perhaps Nubians, are credited with the
domestication of donkey and were the first to breed mules, (a
result of a cross between a donkey and a mare). The Oromo are
expert in animal husbandry through their long tradition as
herdsmen. For some, cattle-rearing (pastoralism) is still the main
occupation.
Because
of Oromia's favorable climate and rich soil, many types of crops
are cultivated and normally there is little need for irrigation.
Normally one and sometimes two crops can be harvested annually
from the same field. Among the major food crops are cereals
(wheat, barley, tef, sorghum, corn, millet, etc.), fiber crops
(cotton), root crops (potato, sweet potato, yam, inset, anchote,
etc.), pulses (peas, beans, chick-peas, lentils, etc.), oil crops
(nugi, flax, etc.), fruit trees (orange, mango, avocado, banana,
lemon, pineapple, peach, etc.), spices (onion, garlic, coriander,
ginger, etc. - coriander and ginger also grow wild) and a variety
of vegetables like okra which is indigenous to Oromia.
Many
varieties of these important crops occur naturally in Oromia.
These diverse crop plants are very valuable natural resources.
Oromo farmers have contributed to world agriculture by cultivating
and developing some of the world's crop plants and in this way
have discovered new domesticated varieties. The main cash crops
are coffee and chat (a stimulant shrub). Coffee, a major cash
earner for many countries, has its origin in the forests of Oromia
and neighboring areas. Specifically, Kafa and Limmu are considered
centers of origin for coffee. It is from here that coffee spread
to other parts of the globe. Coffee was one of the export items of
the Gibe states. Wallagga and llubbabor regions of Oromia exported
coffee to the Sudan through the inland port of Gambella on the
Baro river and border towns of Kurmuk, Gissan, etc. Hararge,
because of its favorable location for communication with the
outside markets through the Red Sea, has been producing one of the
finest coffees for export. Coffee has remained the chief export
item, representing more than 60 per cent of the foreign earnings
of successive Ethiopian colonial regimes.
The
country is also rich in wild animals and plants. Many different
species are found in the waters and forests of Oromia: different
kinds of fish, hippopotami, and crocodiles. Land animals include
lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo, giraffe, wild ass, zebra,
columbus monkey and elephant. There are a number of wild animals
that are found solely in Oromia, such as nyaala, bush-buck
(special type), fox (from Baale), etc.
Various
types of birds, many of them unique, are found around lakes and
elsewhere. These creatures are a source of attraction for tourists
and natural scientists alike.
The
forests of Oromia are a source of excellent timber. Although the
major portion of the forests has been destroyed since its
occupation, some still remain in the south and west. However, this
is threatened by mismanagement, particularly through the fast the
expanding state farms and resettlement programs. At the time of
colonization a large part of Oromia was covered with forest. This
has been reduced to the present 5-7 per cent. In addition to
timber trees, medicinal plants and trees producing different kinds
of gums, grow in abundance. Myrrh, frankincense and gum Arabic are
gathered from the wild trees. Forests, besides being a source of
timber, medicine and gum, are useful in the conservation of water
and soil, and as shelter for wildlife. They also have an important
aesthetic value.
Oromia
has important mineral deposits. The gold mines at Adola and Laga
Dambi in the Sidamo and around Nejjo, Asosa and Birbir river
valley in Wallagga regions which were the major sources of revenue
for Menilek and Haile Selassie are being exploited using modern
machinery. Other important minerals found in Oromia are platinum,
sulphur, iron-ore, silver and salt.
As
early as 1900 Menilek granted concessions to a Swiss company to
mine gold, silver and other minerals in Nejjo, Wallagga region.
Later the Germans took over. English, Russian and Italian
companies extracted gold and platinum at Yubdo and neighboring
areas in the same region. After some 60 years, the Soviet Union is
continuing this business today in the same areas. It is known that
large deposits of natural gas and oil exist in Baafe and Hararge
regions. The Ethiopian government announced as 1986 the discovery
of a new deposit of natural gas in Baale.
The
hundreds of hot springs scattered over Oromia are also of economic
importance. Thousands of people, including foreigners, visit these
springs for their medicinal and recreational value. They are a
great potential source of thermal energy. Rivers, streams and
springs are plentiful. The rivers have many fails that could be
used to generate electric power with little effort. The extent of
this electric power could easily satisfy the power needs of Oromia
and several neighboring countries.
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