Agriculture is an important occupation in Georgia, whose warmer
districts produce large quantities of citrus fruits and tea;
wine grapes, hazelnuts, tobacco, rice, and mulberry trees (for
silk) are also grown. Sheep, pigs, and poultry are raised.
Georgia is rich in minerals, notably manganese (mined mostly at
Chiatura and in Imeritia) and copper; iron ore, coal, tungsten,
barites, molybdenum, oil, and peat are also found. There are
sizable deposits of marble, dolomite, talc, and clays for use in
construction. As part of the Soviet Union, Georgia had a large
and varied industrial sector. Many industries collapsed after
independence, and economic redevelopment has been hindered by
warfare, corruption, and the effects of Russia's economic
troubles. Today, there is food and beverage processing and the
manufacture of steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical
appliances, chemicals, and wood products. The Black Sea shore is
dotted with resorts and spas that attract numerous tourists. The
construction of oil and gas