Hunter-gatherers
|
Swidden
cultivators
|
Rice-growers
| |
| Sumatra
|
7
ethnic gr. : 46.100
|
5
ethnic gr. : 2.225.000
|
9
ethnic gr. : 6.002.000
|
| Mentawaï,
Engano
|
4
islands : 51.000
|
||
| Sulawesi
|
3
ethnic gr. : 30.000
|
52
ethnic gr. : 1.016.800
|
|
| Moluccas,
Halmahera
|
2
ethnic gr. : 3.000
|
14
ethnic gr. : 136.000
|
|
| Seram
|
7
ethnic gr. : 247.375
|
||
| TOTAL
|
12
ethnic gr. : 79.000
|
82
ethnic gr. : 4.692.975
|
1) Transitional hunter-gatherers
On Sumatra : Small scattered groups extract sago and exchange forest products with farmers (for salt and metal).
2) Swidden cultivators
On Sumatra, an economy based exclusively on swidden agriculture (ladang) is only to be found in the central and southern forested areas. But ladang persists as a source of food, supplementing rice cultivation.
The inhabitants of Mentawai and Engano islands have some agriculture though hunting and fishing are very important activities. The islands are covered in primary forest and very little of it has been cut down ; this is all the more fortunate as the soil is very light. Activities are slash and much cultivation, hunting and fishing. Wild sago is used and transplanted. Fruit trees are important for the agroforests and serve as bait for animals that they hunt.
3) The big ethnic groups of cultivators
On Sumatra, there are both irrigated rice fields and swidden gardens. Fresh water fishing is also an important activity.