To find background information about a country or region (politics, economy, agriculture, etc...) , you may want to consult some of the following resources:
Europa World Year Book (2-volume set): Provides an overview of the history, economy, political life, major crops, imports/exports, etc... for countries around the world.
The most recent volumes are available at the Killam Library Service Point (Call Number: D 419 E89 2009 REF). Older volumes are on the 4th floor, Killam Library, at the same call number.