The USSR subsidized Cuba until its breakup in the early nineties. These political events coupled with a fall in the price of sugar mean that many of the Cuban people live in poverty. Despite these difficulties, the State has emphasized the importance of a literate and healthy population. Cuba's main agricultural products are sugar and tobacco. Other crops include citrus fruits, pineapples, coffee, rice, potatoes, vegetables, coffee and rum.
Cattle ranching on the less fertile flatlands is also important.
Forestry is an important industry especially since the loss of the contacts with Russia has cut off the supply of Soviet timber. Natural mineral resources are chromium, cobalt , copper, iron, manganese, nickel and petroleum. Lack of money for importing new cars has meant that people have kept and maintained their old cars. Cubans have a number of old classic American cars which are exported to collectors. Tourism is an important earner of foreign currency for the country.