A planned two-day protest against higher taxes and other austerity conditions imposed upon Greece’s farmers descended into violence early on Friday morning.

Farmers had staged blockades on Greece’s main highways in the run-up to Friday’s demonstrations, which saw protestors launch fruit, veg and other missiles at police and at the Ministry of Agriculture building.

Tensions boiled over when farmers were prevented form staging an occupation of the Ministry building. Farmers armed with lengths of wood and shepherds’ crooks faced down riot police, who used tear gas on protestors in the streets outside the ministry.

Hundreds of farmers attended the protest in Greece’s capital city.

Greece’s international creditors are demanding that the country’s austerity measures are extended to farmers, who have seen rapid rises in the income taxes, cuts to fuel subsidies and higher taxes placed on seeds and other inputs in recent months.

New pension reforms, which will see monthly contributions rise from self-employed people, including farmers, led to the blockades on Greece’s main roads, which began in January.

Opposition to the pension reforms has seen farmers unite with artists and other urban professionals to voice their discontent. They fear that smaller and part-time farmers will be forced to sell up as a result of the reforms.