Barter Trade Practice in Indo-Tibet Border: A Case Study of Damin, Arunachal Pradesh

The practice of barter trade has been part of the culture of Nyishi
tribal community of Damin area in the State of Arunachal Pradesh
(India) since very early times. Initially, Nyishis of Damin started barter
trade in the Indo-Tibet border, to meet the need for rock salt. Today,
their primary objective is to acquire Tibetan ornaments, which are
regarded as traditional ornaments of the Nyishi community and are of
significant cultural value. Moreover, the barter trade has contributed
to bettering the economic lives of the people. It has also potential for
formal cross-border trade, if the government takes the initiative and
provides for proper infrastructure. The present paper highlights the
history of informal cross-border trade, its current scenario, and the
impact of barter trade among the traders in the study area.