Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region Iraq’s Agriculture Ministry announced that the planting of wheat and barley will be “severely reduced” due to low water reserves. Barley planting is going to be almost totally stopped. Vegetable growing and drip-irrigated crops will be encouraged. Bangladesh’s poultry farmers are calling on the government for support due to high input and production costs combined with low poultry prices. The farmers have asked for the removal of the 5 percent tax on pelleted feed and a ban on imported eggs. Farmers are also complaining about the number of poultry operations that are being taken over by large international companies. Forecasts say that in three to four...