States should play active role in food security: new MoS

Referring distress sale and wastage of onions, tomatoes he said proper marketing mechanism is the need of the hour

The Centre's priority is to ensure food security in the country and state governments have a very important role in this endeavour, new Minister of State for Food C R Chaudhary said on Wednesday.

He also said the government will strive to create balance between consumers and farmers' interests to ensure that farmers get right price while people have access to essential items at reasonable rate.

"Providing food security to the masses is the priority of his Government, states shall have to play a very active role in this venture," Chaudhary told reporters after assuming the charge.

Referring distress sale and wastage of onions, tomatoes and other agriculture commodities at the time of plenty, he said proper marketing mechanism is the need of the hour.

"There is price increase due to supply-demand gap. To ensure availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices, we shall have to create balance between consumers and farmers interests," he said.

68-year old Chaudhary is a former bureaucrat and represents Nagaur constituency from Rajasthan. He was Chairman of Rajasthan Public Services Commission during 2008 to 2010. He is trained in rural development works from the UK.