The village that depends on these goods will give the other village wives in return for the goods. Marriage arrangements are not only vital in forging alliances but keeping the peace between families as well. Most women have prearranged marriages and marry at a young age. Some of the crops grown include sweet potatoes, bananas, sugar cane and tobacco. However as horticulturists the Yanomami do not get sufficient protein from their crops.
Men usually make up the hunters and the women the gathers.
Men will go on long distant hunts that may last up to a week. The fact that just about all of the Yanomami live deep within the forest has been quite significant for their survival. Since most outsiders have invaded the Amazon via the large rivers, the Yanomami have been able to live in isolation until very recently. Because of this they have been able to retain their culture and their identity which many Indians of the Amazon have lost. It was not until 1950, that the first non-Yanomami made permanent contact and few villages were directly contacted before twenty years ago.