It is defined mainly by village memory of acquisition and by use. An examination of income from land and of essential outgo shows that about forty acres is necessary for a household of average size, to provide not only for substance, but for weddings and new buildings, and give some security against bad harvests and other misfortunes. There is little casual labour in the village. Skilled craftsmen, such as builders, carpenters, ironworkers, work in the villages, often as a supplement to tilling their fields. Some trade in animals and agricultural products goes on in the villages.
Some villages have shops, and craft needs are met partly on the spot.
For a wide range of articles and services, the villages are dependent on the towns. Migrant labour provides an important part of the village income. The very poor households tend to provide the unskilled, the better off households the skilled migrant labour. Nearly all the men come home at least from December till April, if not more frequently. The household is an economic unit, under the control of its head.