Halaba

Except for the portion that slopes down to the edge of Lake Shala, the elevation of this Zone ranges from 1700 to 2200 meters above sea level.

[2] However, due to a long history of agriculture and population pressure, plant cover is minimal with only a few scattered trees, and the southern end of Halaba has numerous gullies, which have carried off much of the topsoil.

Combined with an erratic rainfall, these factors prevent the inhabitants of this Zone from growing enough food to feed themselves.

[3] The economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture in the form of dryland farming and raising livestock, with some apiculture.

The main cash crops include pepper, maize, teff, sorghum, haricot beans and wheat.

[5] Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 232,325, of whom 117,291 are men and 115,034 women.