The livelihood of the Shipibo-Konibo people, like other Indigenous peoples of the Amazon, is based on slash-and-burn agriculture. Some communities still continue to plant a variety of crops, such as banana, yuca, corn, peanuts, beans, and rice. Planting usually occurs during the dry season.
Their traditional beverage "atsa xeati" or masato is made from yuca that is fermented and stored in ceramic vessels or ‘chomos,’ normally consumed at social gatherings and ritual celebrations. This beverage continues to be a nourishing and staple part of their diet.
Other activities include hunting and fishing. However, in recent years, it has become more difficult to find animals and hunters have to walk for long hours in the bush to get their prey and sometimes return without getting any (Soldevilla, 2010).
Common freshwater fish that are native to the Amazonian basin are the Carachama (Psendorinelepis genibarbis) or the armoured "catfish" as well as a species of Arapaima referred to as “paiche”, known to be among the largest freshwater fish, commonly measuring 2 meters and reaching lengths up to 10ft or more. Fish is usually consumed as a soup or wrapped in leaves to be grilled on the open flame, as is done with the banana cooked in its peel.
