2010-03-30 21:14

ZHENGZHOU - A farmer in central China's Henan province hanged himself Tuesday to protest his treatment by local agriculture officials.

Peng Gonglin, from Dengzhuang Village, Queshan County, was found dead in front of the office of the county seed management station at 6:30 a.m., said He Jiange, deputy chief of the county publicity department.

Peng had been seeking compensation for the losses he suffered after being sold sub-standard rice seeds.

In his suicide note, Peng wrote he felt his request for compensation was "hopeless" after he was jostled and beaten by staff at the county seed management station on Monday. He said he wanted to arouse government attention with his suicide.

Peng told the county agricultural bureau on October 18 he suffered huge losses from declines in rice production on the 18-hectares of land he leased with villager Wang Guoquan, county publicity department official He said.

Peng asked the bureau to investigate, as he suspected the losses were caused by shoddy rice seeds bought from seller Wang Donglin, the official said.

The bureau set up an investigation team on October 26 and later levied an administrative punishment on the seller.

No further details were immediately known.