MOSCOW, March 4. /TASS/. Protests by farmers could cause shortages of certain goods in Europe, said Oleg Kobyakov, the director of the office for liaison with Russia at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

"Certainly, these protests could cause short-term disruptions in supply cycles and even shortages of goods in some areas, but one shouldn’t overestimate their impact on other regions," he said.

According to Kobyakov, European farmers rightly complain about the reduction or elimination of subsidies for fuel and other inputs, falling selling prices, rising costs, the European Commission’s harsh green policies, pressure from retailers, difficulties in repaying loans, and dumping by non-EU countries.

"As for the prices for grain, which is a core crop in Europe, if farmers reduce sowing areas during the upcoming planting season, as their selling prices are falling, then European wheat will rise in price," Kobyakov said.

Farmers have staged protests across some EU countries recently. For example, rallies took place in Belgium, Germany, Italy and France.