Migration also triggers dramatically economic change, predominantly in the villages. Buginese migrants increasingly buy land for cultivation. They grow new agricultural products, which are well marketable and can be sold at a good price. They became so the leading economic force in the villages. The indigenous population, in turn, willingly sell their land to cover debts or just to satisfy their increasing demands for consumer goods. Long term negative repercussions are neglected in their thinking. New dependencies will develop due to the economic dominance of the migrants.

Rice is the traditional crop of Central Sulawesi. It is the main diet of the population. The indigenous population opens up new land for cultivation by starting burning forestry areas if need arises.

There are no other crops traditionally cultivated except chilli, cabbage, ground nuts, carrots and various kinds of vegetables which can be cultivated in alleviated areas. All these crops, including rice, were traditionally cultivated for home consumption only. Nowadays they are becoming increasingly cultivated for selling. In addition, coffee and coconut products are cultivated for selling due to high prices on the international market. Since the arrival of the first Buginese migrants into the area, cacao trees have become a major cultivation product which nowadays covers wide areas. The indigenous population adapted the know how of the cacao cultivation from the Buginese migrants.

A short term increase of income for the indigenous population is to be expected, due to the high international demand and world market prices.

The diversification of the cultivation products triggered an increased prosperity for parts of the region and parts of the population without securing sustainable economic welfare and sustainable use of the environment.