The region is agrarian in activity with rice, copra, casava, timber and other crops. Rainfall is lower in the south of the regency and higher in the north as the land rises toward Mount Rinjani. Rinjani supplies a rainfall catchment area to the region and several eastern Lombok rivers flow from its slopes. The sea supports a small local fishing industry, a pearl industry and prawn farming. Mineral exploration for gold, silver and copper forms an increasingly important activity.