The problem associated with the policy of land ceiling is:

(2) Legislation challenged by big landlords

1. Land ceiling policies are often challenged and resisted by large landowners who are affected by the limits placed on landownership. This can lead to legal and political conflicts as they seek to retain their large land holdings, which may be in violation of land ceiling laws. 

   2.The other options, such as intermediaries being abolished, soil degradation due to the overuse of chemical pesticides, and expensive HYV (High-Yielding Variety) technology, are related to different aspects of agricultural and land use practices but are not directly linked to the issue of land ceiling policies.