The basis of the Aka economy is found in forest and river resources. Their main professions are shifting agriculture (jhum cultivation), hunting, fishing, and gathering forest products. The Aka cultivate in their jhum fields vegetables, maize, and cucumbers to sell for income. Orange orchards and turmeric are cultivated in the villages like Bana. Bamboo and plantain leaves from the forests are used for house construction, household implements, and other necessities, thereby pointing to the extent of their dependence on forest resources in daily life.

The Aka have always had a rich set of traditional practices but are faced with the challenge of trying to preserve their livelihood. Environmental alteration, coupled with restricted market access and forest degradation, threatens their resources and traditional ways of life. The pressures of modernization and changing modes of agriculture also adversely impinge on their economic stability. Being a minority tribe, it adds further disadvantage to the Aka in trying to protect their heritage while meeting contemporary needs, hence the need for sustainable development solutions that respect their way of life.