New Delhi, Nov 24 (KNN) To simplify the leasing of farm land, a model (agricultural) land leasing act proposed by NITI Aayog way back in 2016 is yet to find many takers across state governments, its Additional Secretary, Yaduvendra Mathur said.

“We came out with the proposed law in 2016 and it has been nearly two years now and most states are yet to get back to us so that we can finalize the draft,” Mathur said during a seminar.

“We have again written to Chief Secretaries of various states,” he added.

A review on existing state tenancy laws were carried out in 2015, under the leadership of agricultural economist Tajamul Haque.

Steps were taken to prepare a model act that could make land leasing much easier.

The new law proposes to legalese the entire tenancy process for agricultural land at the national level.

Once it is in place, even tenant cultivators will have access to institutional loans and insurance schemes for crops and other farming inputs.

“The idea is to improve farm incomes and ensure greater flow of credit,” Mathur said

He added, “Land remains a state subject”.

According to him, a handful of states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have reacted positively to it.