From Subsistence to Market Integration: The Economic Transition of the Vaiphei People

The Vaiphei people, a recognized Scheduled Tribe predominantly residing in the hill districts of Manipur, have traditionally sustained a subsistence-oriented economy rooted in shifting cultivation, forest resource utilization, hunting, and indigenous handicrafts. In recent decades, processes of modernization, infrastructural expansion, state intervention, and growing market penetration have progressively transformed their livelihood systems. This study examines the nature and dynamics of the Vaiphei community’s economic transition from a largely self-sufficient subsistence framework toward increasing integration with market-oriented activities. Employing qualitative ethnographic methods alongside analysis of secondary sources, the research investigates traditional agricultural practices, occupational patterns, livestock rearing, cottage industries, and emerging forms of economic diversification. The findings reveal that while traditional economic institutions continue to hold cultural and social significance, expanding commercialization, wage employment, and improved market connectivity have substantially reshaped local economic structures. The study underscores the importance of culturally responsive development strategies that harmonize indigenous knowledge systems with contemporary economic opportunities to ensure sustainable and inclusive community development.