On April 6, in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, a roughly 90-acre onion plantation was rumored to be “available for free picking”. After the news spread, hundreds of people rushed into the fields to grab the onions, causing the farmers to suffer losses exceeding 200,000 yuan.
According to reports from mainland China media, the incident took place in Sanxing Town, Haimen District, Nantong. A viral video claimed that the onions in question were “not needed anymore and the boss doesn’t want money.” The news quickly spread, leading to a large number of people arriving at the scene with woven bags, electric cars, and even tricycles to dig up the onions.
Sources familiar with the situation stated that over 90 acres of large onions were quickly dug up by a large number of people, resulting in a loss of nearly 40 acres. “There were hundreds of people on-site, not just picking a few onions each, but uprooting so many that they couldn’t carry them all,” causing intense crowding that at one point led to traffic congestion on surrounding roads.
Mr. Liu, a farmer, stated in an interview that the rumors were purely baseless, “I never said I didn’t want them, these onions were meant to be sold.” He mentioned that this batch of large onions was the result of months of investment in land rent, seeds, fertilizers, and labor costs, originally intended to repay loans and support his children’s education.
“As more and more people came, it was impossible to control.” Recalling the incident, Mr. Liu described how people kept pouring into the fields, “You couldn’t stop them, no one listened when you spoke, blocking their path didn’t work as they just went around you, and when they swarmed in, you couldn’t defend.” He could only watch in dismay as the onions he had worked hard to grow for months were pulled out one by one. He described the crowd as “dense and overwhelming.”
He estimated that this event resulted in direct economic losses exceeding 200,000 yuan, almost reducing a whole season’s yield to zero. He stated that he is currently considering seeking legal recourse, but identifying the specific responsible parties proves challenging.
The incident has sparked discussions online, with netizens pointing out, “A rumor attracting hundreds of people to snatch goods, while the costs are borne by the farmers.” “Working hard on your land is less rewarding than shamelessly joining the looting. Isn’t something wrong with this society?” “There should be accountability for this incident. It’s not just about Mr. Liu but for all hardworking farmers.”
This event serves as a cautionary tale highlighting the impact of misinformation and the struggles faced by farmers due to such incidents. The economic losses and emotional toll on Mr. Liu and others in similar situations underscore the importance of addressing such issues and protecting the rights and efforts of those involved in agriculture.