Rice agriculture is the most common form of land use outside of the park. Rice fields take the form of irrigated patty rice in valleys, or slash and burn cultivation on the slopes of mountains where there is less water. Other agricultural products such as fruits, coffee, and cocoa are grown at Masoala.

The two most significant export products in the area are cloves and vanilla. The French introduced vanilla, an orchid of Mexican origin, to Madagascar. There is no natural pollinator of vanilla on the island; so the vanilla flowers must be laboriously hand pollinated to ensure the adequate production of high quality beans. The northeast region of Madagascar produces a majority of the world’s vanilla.

Another significant resource for coastal villages is fishing. Village fishermen still use traditional techniques and fishing from dugout canoes. These canoes are made from forest trees like Callophyllum. When walking on the beautiful beaches of the Antongil Bay, you will see fisherman navigating these canoes wherever you are.