The agricultural sector remains the largest employer of rural residents with 61 percent of rural men and 56 percent of rural women working in agriculture either on their own land or as agricultural laborers. Thus increasing agricultural productivity of staples like rice and diversifying into more high-value crops has the potential to significantly impact the fortunes of Bangladesh's poor. Farm sizes in Bangladesh are extremely small and nearly half of rural residents own no land; the poverty level among this portion of the population is very high at 65%. This group may need special assistance since they benefit only indirectly from assistance provide to improve cropping systems. Livestock, fisheries and communal lands are important sources of income for the rural landless.

Beyond Income Poverty: Services and the Poor
In addition to very low incomes, many of Bangladesh's poor still have minimal access to basic services. While there have been improvements in nutrition and basic healthcare, almost half of all children are still severely underweight and many school age children are not currently enrolled. In terms of drinking water and sanitation, many challenges remain. The rapid expansion of tube wells in rural areas has significantly reduced the population's dependence on surface water and reduced the incidence of waterborne diseases, although the serious threat posed by arsenic contamination of these wells has yet to be fully addressed. Proper toilet facilities are another major deficiency in the lives of the poor with only 38% having suitable options in their homes. A miniscule 2% of the poor have piped water supplies, although only 7% of Bangladeshis overall have this service. This lack of sanitation among the poor has led to high rates of health problems.