Centre has convened a meeting of state Food Ministers in New Delhi on Friday to discuss measures to check unreasonable increase in prices of food items including onion and potato.

The meeting to be chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will deliberate on steps to prevent hoarding of kitchen staples and plans for distribution of specific essential items through public channels.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that there is adequate availability of foodgrains in the country and black marketing and hoarding are the main reasons behind the price rise. He also asked the States to take all possible measures to crackdown on hoarders.