Prices of potato and onion in the capital's kitchen markets have gone up by at least Tk 3 to Tk 10 per kilogram in the last four days, dealing a further blow to consumers, especially those from low- and middle-income families.

Traders blamed the price hikes by suppliers amid torrential rain in the last few days for the rise in potato prices. They also claimed that there was a shortage of onion supplies to the markets.

Consumers, however, raised questions about the government's market monitoring mechanism as it could not enforce the retail prices of onion, potato and egg.

The government on September 14 fixed the retail price of onion at Tk 64-65 per kg, potato at Tk 35-36 a kg and egg at Tk 12 each.

Retailers at Karwan Bazar, Kazipara, and Shewrapara kitchen markets sold potato for Tk 50 per kg yesterday, up from Tk 45 on Tuesday.

Besides, locally produced good quality onion was sold for Tk 90 to Tk 100 per kg, up from Tk 80 to Tk 90 four days ago.

Yusuf Bepari, one of the owners of Bikrampur Bhandar at Karwan Bazar, said they sold potato at a wholesale price of Tk 39 to Tk 42 per kg yesterday.

According to him, the price came down to Tk 36 from Tk 39 per kg last week.

Yusuf said the price of potato went up as suppliers hiked the price after knowing that the potato seeds of many farmers, especially in the country's northern region, were damaged during the recent heavy rains.

Besides, the next potato crop will not hit the markets for at least another month. This could be another reason behind the increase in the tuber price, he said.

Shafiqul Islam, a self-employed person, went to Karwan Bazar from the Begunbari area yesterday to buy some essentials for his five-member family.

He said the price of five kg potato went up by Tk 20 compared to last week.

"It has become very difficult for me to cope with the soaring prices of essentials," he added.

Onion trader Shajib Sheikh, proprietor of Matri Bhandar wholesale shop at Karwan Bazar, said there is a shortage of onion supplies from Faridpur and Pabna, the country's two major onion-producing districts.

Also, the import of onion has fallen in the last few days and the next onion crop will not be available in two to three months. These could be the other reasons for the recent increase in onion price, he said.

Yesterday, ginger was sold for Tk 320 to Tk 350 per kg at Karwan Bazar, up by Tk 20 to Tk 30 from Tuesday.