Bhubaneswar, Jan 9 (IANS) The rising food prices are a matter of deep concern and the central government has taken measures to improve the situation, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here Sunday.

"It is a matter of deep concern," he said after delivering a lecture at the foundation day function of state-owned National Aluminium Company (Nalco).

"I hope the measures which we have taken both from the supply side and demand side and also allowing of imports of essential food items, which are in short supply with zero duty, will improve the situation," he told reporters.

"There is no way we can completely insulate ourselves from the adverse impact," he said, adding that the rising fuel prices, particularly the diesel price, impact the economy.

Mukherjee said he has written to all the chief ministers to check hoarding of essential commodities so that the poor and weaker section of the society get food items at subsidised prices.