Bench Maji Zone

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Bench Maji is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). Bench Maji is bordered on the south by the Ilemi Triangle, on the west by Sudan, on the northwest by the Gambela Region, on the north by Keficho Shekicho and on the east by Debub Omo.

Towns and cities in Bench Maji include Mizan Teferi and Maji.

The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) reported that 10,097 tons of coffee were produced in Bench Maji in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 10.6% of the SNNPRs output and 4.4% of Ethiopia's total output.^[1]

[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the CSA, in 2005 this zone has an estimated total population of 468,525, of which 234,817 were males and 233,708 were females; 42,577 or 9.1% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 23,442.76 square kilometers, Bench Maji has an estimated population density of 19.99 people per square kilometer.^[2]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 7% of the inhabitants of Bench Maji have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 15.5 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers),^[3] the average rural household has 0.3 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.89 for the SNNPR)^[4] the equivalent of 0.5 heads of livestock. 15.7% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 32%. 81% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 12% in secondary schools. 44% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and 54% to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 303.^[5]