Trending in China: State Media Defends Villager Who Was Publicly Shamed for Farming During Lockdown

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A farmer in Henan province was forced by his community to make an apology by loudspeaker for farming during a lockdown. On Aug. 2, the resident of Ningling county was made to repeat the phrase, “I got caught spraying insecticide on my fields. Don’t learn from me. Don’t go out, just stay at home.”

Since a video of the incident was posted online on Aug. 3, the local authority’s harsh measures have come under widespread criticism, especially their impact on farmers’ agricultural schedules in the heat of summer.