Agaro

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Agaro
Agaro (Ethiopië )
Agaro
Agaro
Location within Ethiopia
Coordinates: 7°51′N 36°39′E / 7.85, 36.65
Country Ethiopia
Region Oromia
Zone Jimma
Elevation 1,560 m (5,118 ft)
Population (2005)
 - Total 41,616
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)

Agaro is a town in southwestern Ethiopia, and the administrative center of Gomma woreda. Located in the Jimma Zone of the Oromia Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of 7°51′N, 36°39′E, and an elevation of 1560 meters above sea level.[1]

The road that originally connected Agaro to Jimma was "better known for its depth than for its length" until improvements were completed in 1962. The road to Bedele, 96 km long, was completed in 1968 at a cost of 12 million dollars (Ethiopian), by the French company Razel Frères. Agaro is one of the most important trading centers of coffee in Ethiopia.[2]

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Agaro has an estimated total population of 41,616 of whom 21,549 were males and 20,067 were females.[3] The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 23,246 of whom 11,687 were males and 11,559 were females.

Agaro was the capital of the former Kingdom of Gomma, until Gomma was conquered by Dejazmach Besha Abuye in 1886. By 1958 Agaro was one of 27 places in Ethiopia ranked as a First Class Township. Fitawrari Gebre Kristos, started coffee plantations in the 1950s on land he inherited from his grandfather Fitawrari Wossen. Fitawrari Besha could employ up to 400 workers during high harvest season. After the Ethiopian revolution, Gebre Kristos abandoned his plantation and retired to Addis Ababa; his plantation was nationalized by the Land Nationalization Proclamation of March 1975.[2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ According to its weather station, as provided at Climate Explorer: Found Station data. (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute website, accessed 14 July 2007)
  2. ^ a b "Local History in Ethiopia" (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 16 November 2007)
  3. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Table B.4
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