<P> Agriculture is the largest employment sector in Bangladesh . The performance of this sector has an overwhelming impact on major macroeconomic objectives like employment generation, poverty alleviation, human resources development, food security etc . </P> <P> A plurality of Bangladeshis earn their living from agriculture . Although rice and jute are the primary crops, wheat is assuming greater importance . Tea is grown in the northeast . Because of Bangladesh's fertile soil and normally ample water supply, rice can be grown and harvested three times a year in many areas . Due to a number of factors, Bangladesh's labour - intensive agriculture has achieved steady increases in food grain production despite the often unfavorable weather conditions . These include better flood control and irrigation, a generally more efficient use of fertilizers, and the establishment of better distribution and rural credit networks . With 35.8 million metric tons produced in 2000, rice is Bangladesh's principal crop . National sales of the classes of insecticide used on rice, including granular carbofuran, synthetic pyrethroids, and malathion exceeded 13,000 tons of formulated product in 2003 . The insecticides not only represent an environmental threat, but are a significant expenditure to poor rice farmers . The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute is working with various NGOs and international organisations to reduce insecticide use in rice . </P> <P> In comparison to rice, wheat output in 1999 was 1.9 million metric tons . Population pressure continues to place a severe burden on productive capacity, creating a food deficit, especially of wheat . Foreign assistance and commercial imports fill the gap . Underemployment remains a serious problem, and a growing concern for Bangladesh's agricultural sector will be its ability to absorb additional manpower . Finding alternative sources of employment will continue to be a daunting problem for future governments, particularly with the increasing numbers of landless peasants who already account for about half the rural labour force . </P> <P> Although rice, wheat, mango and jute are the primary crops, and rice and wheat are mostly main crops or food crops of some countries e . Due to the expansion of irrigation networks, some wheat producers have switched to cultivation of maize which is used mostly as poultry feed . Tea is grown in the northeast . Because of Bangladesh's fertile soil and normally ample water supply, rice can be grown and harvested three times a year in many areas . Due to a number of factors, Bangladesh's labour - intensive agriculture has achieved steady increases in food grain production despite the often unfavorable weather conditions . These include better flood control and irrigation, a generally more efficient use of fertilizers, and the establishment of better distribution and rural credit networks . With 28.8 million metric tons produced in 2005--2006 (July--June), rice is Bangladesh's principal crop . By comparison, wheat output in 2005--2006 was 9 million metric tons . Population pressure continues to place a severe burden on productive capacity, creating a food deficit, especially of wheat . Foreign assistance and commercial imports fill the gap . Underemployment remains a serious problem, and a growing concern for Bangladesh's agricultural sector will be its ability to absorb additional manpower . </P>

What is the most serious problem for bangladeshi farmers