As of Feb 18, 318 agricultural trade markets in Hangzhou had resumed normal operations. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

A total of 318 agricultural product markets in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, have resumed normal operations.

The Hangzhou market regulation authorities recently issued eight measures to alleviate the impact of the epidemic on Hangzhou agricultural trade markets and help them resume operations as soon as possible.

According to the measures, state-owned agricultural trade markets are encouraged to cancel rent payments for three months during the ongoing virus outbreak, while other agricultural trade markets should lower rent payments for vendors

Thanks to the measures, some vendors at agricultural trade markets have been able to sell their products at low prices.

Some booths at Wanshouting agricultural trade market in Xiacheng district are selling vegetables and meat at or below standard prices.

Vendors said that the markets had exempted them from 1,250 yuan ($178) in rent payments, which reduced business costs.

Xiacheng district ruled that vendors under quarantine that are renting booths in its agricultural trade markets don’t need to pay rent during their quarantine period.

To honor agricultural trade markets which remained open during the Spring Festival, the Xihu district authorities are offering subsidies.

According to statistics, 35 markets in Xihu district are eligible to receive the subsidies, which amount to 1.33 billion yuan in total.

Yuhang district also rolled out similar measures to subsidize agricultural trade and wholesale markets that have remained open during the outbreak.

Agricultural wholesale markets will receive 100,000 yuan each in subsidies, while agricultural trade markets will receive 30,000 yuan.

As of Feb 18, 318 agricultural trade markets in Hangzhou resumed operations, accounting for more than 94 percent of the total in the city.