Vangelis Boutas

Unionists representing Greek farmers who have stepped up their protests in recent weeks over the government's ongoing austerity measures are to meet with Agriculture Minister Vangelis Apostolou on Monday to discuss their demands.

Over the weekend, hundreds of farmers converged on the northern port city of Thessaloniki to protest outside the annual Agrotica agricultural trade fair.

Some 2,000 disgruntled farmers arrived in Athens on Tuesday to protest tax and social security hikes, but desisted from driving their tractors and pick-up trucks into the city center as some had suggested would happen last week.

Talks between government officials and representatives of protesting farmers, who have been blocking road junctions for three weeks over ongoing austerity, failed to yield a compromise on Friday, prompting unionists to threaten further action.

Farmers all over Greece are up in arms against the Greek government and are preparing to block main highways throughout the country. The mobilisation is scheduled to start Monday in central Greece, where farmers will set up blockades on the national highway in Thessaly in central Greece.