Agriculture is the main occupation of the people.
This is integrated with livestock, fisheries and homestead forestry components. Bangladesh agriculture is overwhelmingly rain-fed and highly vulnerable to floods, droughts, cyclones, tidal waves as well as river bank erosion. The Government now estimates that nearly one million tonnes of rice will need to be imported in 1995. Boro rice, pulses, oilseeds, tobacco, cotton, tuber crops, vegetables and spices are grown during the November - March period and, thus, represent potential competitors for wheat. The strongest competitor for wheat area has been boro rice.