In recent news from Qipanshan Town, Qishan County, Shaanxi Province, a farmer used a large machine to harvest corn. After the harvest, a large group of villagers came to “pick up” the corn, prompting the farmer to resort to setting off fireworks to drive them away. This phenomenon of villagers picking up harvested crops has become quite common, as feedback on the internet indicates.
On the evening of October 15th, a netizen posted a video claiming that in a certain area of Qishan County, Shaanxi Province, after a large machine harvested corn, people were seen picking up the corn in the field. A pickup truck drove into the field with a Gatling firework mounted on it, spraying towards the crowd picking up the corn, causing them to retreat to the edge of the field. The video showed that among the people picking up corn, there were also elderly individuals, and the person who posted the video described it as a “helpless act.”
According to a report in the “Xiaoxiang Morning News” on October 16th, sources familiar with the matter stated that the aforementioned incident occurred in Caijiapo Town in Qishan County. Similar incidents have occurred many times before, and there was even a case of someone getting injured not long ago.
The report mentioned that the individual who posted the video is suspected to be an employee of an agricultural machinery cooperative in Qishan County. Recently, this person has posted numerous videos showing the use of machinery to harvest corn. Videos from other workers engaged in corn harvesting also showed that there were villagers following behind the harvesting machine to pick up the corn as early as 6 o’clock in the morning. Many farmers have complained that their hard-earned crops are being picked up from the ground, impacting their yields.
This incident has sparked a resonance among other farmers.
“Our family planted three mu of corn, and one-third of it was flattened. After the machine harvested it, when we went home to get the corn, people on the ground had taken all the flattened ones. There’s really nothing we can do.” “There’s nothing we can do. The wheat we planted at home, because there are power poles in the field, the wheat machine couldn’t cut through it. As soon as the wheat machine left, it was taken by someone.” “In our village, someone planted five mu of potatoes. Before the owner even dug them up, many people went to dig them up, and some were even couples. It feels like they’re digging up their own produce.”
“In our village, there are also several people who go to pick up leftover corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and so on. Oh my, the amount they pick up from leftovers is much more than what we planted!” “In my hometown, there are these people who lease land, grow crops, and when the harvest is ready, they directly go to the field to loot. The land leaser has no way to stop them, even if you call the police, it’s useless, the police just advise them, and the land leaser is very helpless.”
“This shouldn’t be considered picking up, it should be considered looting, right?” “After looting, they can sell at a low price, which is a double blow to the farmers!” “It’s really a helpless act! Aren’t they farmers themselves? Don’t they understand the hard work of a bountiful harvest? You should eat what you grow or buy, what’s the point of stealing from others?”
“If this behavior is framed as picking up items, in reality, it’s crowd looting. In places where such customs prevail, if this spreads, it will deter investors!”