While agriculture is not practiced within the dense urban center of Itanagar, the outskirts and the broader Papum Pare district are heavily agricultural. Traditionally, the indigenous tribes practice *Jhum* (shifting) cultivation, though there is a strong push towards settled terrace farming.
Major crops grown in the vicinity include rice, maize, and millet. Horticulture is particularly successful, with abundant yields of oranges, pineapples, ginger, and large cardamom. Bamboo is a crucial economic and agricultural resource, used for food, construction, and crafts. Livestock rearing is also vital; the Mithun (a semi-domesticated bovine) holds immense cultural and economic value and is often considered a measure of wealth among the local tribes.