The arid zone covers a total of about 35.5 million hectar (i.e. 31.50% of the country). The altitude ranges from below see level to 2200masl. The mean annual temperature ranges from 16-28oc and rainfall ranges from 100-800mm. It has less than 45 days of growing period

Practices: Nomadic pastoralism i.e. Livestock rearing (goat, sheep, camel and cattle) are widly practiced besides sorghum and chat cultivation.

hill mountain Humid agro-ecology (hot to warm lowlands, tepid to cool mid highlands and cold to very cold humid sub-afroalpine to afroalpine)

The humid zone is the most stable zone in the country and covers about 4.4 million hectars (i.e. 3.92% of the country). Altitude ranges from 600-4200masl. Mean annual temperature ranges from 8-26oc and rainfall ranges from 500-2200mm. The growing period of the zone ranges from 180-330 days. Mount Chilalo and Mount Kaka is found in this Agro-ecology.

Practices: Cereal based, enset based and shifting cultivation are the common agricultural practices along with animal rearing .

hill mountain Moist Agro-ecology (hot to warm lowlands, tepid to cool moist mid highlands and cold to very cold sub-afroalpine to afroalpine)

Moist agroecology zone is the most important agricultural land of the country, it covers about 28.0 million hectars (i.e. about 24.9% of the country). The altitude ranges from 400-3200masl. The mean annual temperature ranges from 7-28oc and rainfall ranges from 250-2200mm. The area has a growing period ranges from 150-270 days.

Practices: Cultivation of both annual and perinneal crops is a common practices as a mixed farming. In some part of the zone annual crops specially cereal based crop cultivation is the dominant agricultural practices. Livestock rearing is also practiced as a secondary activity.

hill mountain Per-humid agro-ecology (hot to warm lowlands and tepid to cool mid highlands)

The Zone is mainly situated in the south western part of the country. The zone recieves high amount of rainfall with good and reliable distributions. The zone coveres about 0.9 million hectars (i.e. about 0.85% of the country). The altitude ranges from 1000-2800masl. Mean annual temperature ranges from 13-26oc and rainfall ranges from 1100-2200mm. The area has dependable growing period of 330 days.

Practices: Cultivation of annual and perennial corps and partly shifting cultivation is a common agricultural practices. Enset, khat and fruit crops are the dominant perennial crops grown in the area.

hill mountain Semi-Arid Agro-ecology (Hot to warm lowlands and tepid to cool mid highlands)

The semi-arid zone which is less harsh (compared to the arid zone) for life occupies about 4.0 million ha of land (i.e. 3.57% of the country). With the altitude ranges from 400-2200masl. Mean annual temperature ranges from 16-30oc and rainfall ranges from 300-800mm. the area has a growing period of about 60 days.

Practices: Nomadic pastoralism and agro-pastoralism is the major agricultural practices in part of the semi-arid area and in the other part is mechanized and traditional crop cultivation is a common agricultural practices.

hill mountain Sub-humid agro-ecologies (Hot-warm lowlands, tepid to cool mid-highlands and cold to very cold sub-afroalpine to afroalpine)

The sub-humid zone is the most stable zone in the country. It covers about 17.5 million hectar of land (i.e. about 15% of the country). The zone has an altitude range of 400-4300masl. Mean annual temperature varies from 8-28oc and rainfall ranges from 700-2200mm. Dependable growing period of the zone ranges from 180-330days. Gibe river is found in the zone

Practices: Cereal based, enset based and shifting cultivation is the common agricultural practices in the zone. In some parts of the zone also nomadic pastoralism of agricultural practices are also exercised.

hill mountain Sub-moist Agro-ecology (hot to warm low lands, tepid to cool mid-highlands and cold to very cold sub-afroalpin to afroalpin)

The sub-moist agroecology coveres about 22.2 million hectare (i.e. about 19.1% of the country). With the altitude ranges from 400-4000masl. Mean annual temperature ranges from 16-28oc and rainfall ranges from 200-2600mm. The area has extended growing periods up to 250 days.

Practices: The zone has two farming systems, cereal based and enset based agriculture, along with livestock rearing. Double dependable growing period (bulg or first season and meher or second season) and one dry season is also existed.