concentrations of minerals in the Ural mountains and large supplies of oil, gas, coal and timber reserves in Siberia and the Russian Far East. However, many of these reserves are located in remote and unfavorable areas that are difficult to develop and which are located far from Russian ports. Oil and gas continue, however, to be the source of hard currency for Russia, which remains a leading producer and exporter of minerals, gold and fuels. Russia also has large stocks of fish and its fishing industry ranks only behind Japan, the United States and China in the world. Russia contributes one-fourth of the world's production of fresh and frozen fish, and approximately one-third of the world's supply of canned fish.
Because of its terrain, there are relatively few areas which are suitable for agriculture within Russia. The country is also burdened with an arid climate and inconsistent rainfall. Livestock farming is conducted in the north while the southern regions and Siberia produce grain. Agricultural production within Russia accounts for more than one-half of that for the entire NIS (primaril
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