Sudanese police clashed with farmers in the country's agricultural heartland on Wednesday.

Witnesses said police used batons to break up a group of about 400 farmers in Gezira state.

The protesters gathered at the headquarters of the Gezira Scheme, a vast state-run farming project south of Khartoum and between the Blue and White Nile rivers.

The farmers were demonstrating against what they said was an insufficient government offer for their land.

Sudan previously announced a plan to acquire some of the land and allow foreign investors to farm it. Khartoum hopes the move will boost agricultural output and increase revenue.