The Hill Tribes people have traditionally practices shifting cultivation of rice corn, supplemented with hunting and gathering. In the past, much opium was planted, however this practice was phased out over 20 years ago. Government policies on land use and pressure from the icreasing populations now limits the Hill Tribes people to cultivating the same plot of land on a continuous basis.
The pressure of modernisation has caused many changes to the lifestyle of Hill Tribes people. The increased need for money has instigated a change from planting food to eat, a subsistance lifestyle, to the planting of cash crops such as cabbages. Cash crops, when successful can provide the money to buy cars, televisions and other modern conveniences.
