Traditional Livelihood and Occupations

Livelihood

A person's livelihood refers to their "means of securing the basic necessities -food, water, shelter and clothing- of life". Livelihood is defined as a set of activities, involving securing water, food, fodder, medicine, shelter, clothing and the capacity to acquire above necessities working either individually or as a group by using endowments (both human and material) for meeting the requirements of the self and his/her household on a sustainable basis with dignity. The activities are usually carried out repeatedly. 

For instance, a fisherman's livelihood depends on the availability and accessibility of fish.

Many of the indigenous peoples in Asia usually live in remote communities in the mountains, plains, river basins, forests and coastal areas. They live in some of the most biodiversity-rich areas of the world, where they engage in a range of occupations for livelihood. While there is enormous diversity among indigenous peoples, common to all are a strong cultural attachment to the land and the dependence of their traditional livelihoods on the land, forests or sea, and the natural resources found therein. 

Traditional occupations are still the chief sources of livelihood of most indigenous peoples in Asia. During the 4th Indigenous Development Conference in Asia held in Sabah, Malaysia in 2008, traditional occupations were estimated to account for 95 percent of indigenous peoples’ livelihoods in Timor Leste, 90 percent in Cambodia, 80 percent in Malaysia, 70 percent in Thailand, and 50 percent in the Philippines. 

The traditional occupations of indigenous peoples in Asia include farming, livestock raising, fishing, hunting and gathering, making of handicrafts and food items, sale of local products, small scale mining, among others. 

1. The majority are engaged in agriculture as a traditional livelihood. Agriculture is practiced both for subsistence and for the market. Sedentary agriculture in rice fields and vegetable gardens, as well as rotational cultivation or swidden farming are widely practiced.
2. Another system is crop rotation cultivation, which is widely practiced by indigenous peoples in the highlands today. This system depends on the cultivation of a different type of crop in the same field every year, in recognition that different crops extract different nutrients from the soil. Crop rotation is increasingly done because some communities are no longer able to allow lands to lie fallow because of the lack of land to produce enough food for the community. Vegetables and other crops like corn, legumes, root crops are also grown in home gardens or vegetable fields and terraces. 
3. Agricultural production is largely for consumption or subsistence, although cash crops are increasingly produced to earn cash income for the needs of the family. Small-scale barter or trade of agricultural products is also done in order to acquire other products or commodities not available in the community. 
4. Another common traditional occupation is raising of domesticated animals or livestock including buffalo, cattle, horses, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, among others. This is usually done to provide a source of protein in the diet and to augment crop production for the needs of the household. Livestock are also raised to provide the needed animals in the performance of traditional rituals and as a source of cash for emergency needs. 
5. For indigenous peoples living near water bodies like rivers, ponds, lakes and seas, fishing is a significant traditional occupation. 
6.  Indigenous peoples living in forests engage in hunting of wild animals like deer, wild boar, birds and others as a major source of food. Gathering of materials or products from the forest like wild vegetables, fruits, herbal medicines, honey, rattan and other non-timber forest products is another significant traditional source of livelihood. These forest products are both for local consumption and for sale in the market. 
7. Most indigenous peoples engage in the production and sale of traditional handicrafts like basketry, textile weaving, carpet making, pottery, metal smithing, jewelry making, beadwork and others. Some indigenous groups in Asia also do carpentry, wood or stone carving or sculpting. Traditionally, handicrafts were produced to supply local needs for clothing, cooking utensils, and other household needs. However, the intricate designs and superior handiwork of indigenous crafts have made them attractive for sale to tourists, travelers and other consumers. Traditional handicrafts have thus become a valuable source of additional cash for local producers among indigenous peoples. 
8. Traditional small-scale mining for gold and other metals is also a traditional occupation for some indigenous peoples. This is particularly engaged in by indigenous peoples in the Cordillera, Philippines, who use traditional methods of mineral extraction and processing that have proven environment friendly and sustainable as a source of livelihood of the community. 
9. Other common traditional occupations are wine and beer making, sugar making, salt making, and other local food production and processing systems. In many indigenous Asian societies, there are also persons who earn some or all their living as traditional specialists in healing, mediation with the ancestors and nature spirits, divining, and conflict mediation and resolution of intra-community and inter-community conflicts.