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Natural resources are one of the most important factors for development
of a nation. The natural resources of Oromia consist of its land,
soil, forest, water, minerals and diverse climate. Effective and
efficient utilization and management of these resources are extremely
crucial for balanced and sustainable socio-economic development
of the region. In view of this, analysis of the situation of these
resources has been made and conclusions were drawn revealing appropriate
strategies to be pursued.
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Land
Resources |
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Though
information on land use is varied and inconsistent, the Economic Study
of Oromia has indicated that the total land area of the region is about
359,619.8 km2. Extensive plain, mountains, and plateaus constitute the
land mass of the region, of which about 3.8 million hectares (CSA) are
being cultivated land comprising about 3.7 million hectare of rain fed
and 84,000 hectares irrigated land. However, the Economic Study of Oromia
puts the size of cultivated land in the region in the order of 5 million
hectares comprising 4.9 million hectares of rain-fed agriculture and 92,000
hectares of irrigated agriculture.
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As per
the same source, mountains, water bodies, waste land and land used for
other purposes cover about 5.9 million hectares.
Moreover, the region's about 1.7million hectares of land has also been
used for settlement and infrastructure while still there is estimated
3.1 million hectares of land which could be used for cultivation.Due
to rapid population growth, absence of land use policy and strategy
(until recent time) the farm land has continued to be fragmented considerably
affecting the size of land holding, production and productivity of agriculture.
It is therefore, critical to quickly implement the regional land use
policy and issue land use right certification to land holders to improve
the current state of land management and the productivity of the land
resources.
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