Melpa woman carrying her baby (Papua New Guinea). The Melpa people primarily inhabit the Western Highlands Province in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. This region is characterized by rugged mountainous terrain. Melpa society traditionally had a clan-based social structure. Each clan was led by a clan chief, and the clans played important roles in local politics and decision-making. The Melpa people are primarily subsistence farmers who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. They cultivate crops such as sweet potatoes, taro, yams, and vegetables in the fertile highland soils. Pigs are also an important part of their agricultural system, used in rituals and as a form of currency.