Sales of home appliance under a rural subsidy program for Chinese farmers surged 82 percent to 16 billion yuan (US$2.36 billion) in July compared to one year earlier, according to information released by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Wednesday.

Specifically, sales of home appliances during the January-July period rose 240 percent to reach 83.8 billion yuan, the MOC said in an statement posted on its website.

The sales volume in the first seven months reached 39.3 million appliances, with July's figure standing at 6.75 million, up 58 percent year-on-year, according to the statement.

China started the subsidy program in February of 2009 to spur rural consumption and buoy the nation's economic growth amid the global economic downturn.

Farmers have received subsidies equal to 13 percent of the price of designated brands of refrigerators, televisions, mobile phones, washing machines, computers, air conditioners, water heaters, microwave ovens and traditional ovens.

Earlier this year, another six types of home appliances, including electric bikes, smoke exhaust ventilators, gas stoves, pressure cookers, electric cookers and DVD players, were added to the subsidy program.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2010)