Gujarat plans to allow non-farmers to buy agricultural land

To promote organic farming, attract more investment to the sector, and to stop agricultural land becoming non-agricultural (NA), Government of Gujarat is planning to relax rules related to agricultural land, allowing the non-farmers to purchase agricultural land.

Currently, under the Gujarat Tenancy and Agricultural Land Act, 1948, only families of farmers, or of farmer-origins, can buy agricultural land. 

However, according to Additional Chief Secretary of the state, Dr Jayanti Ravi, present at the new feedback centre for online services by state revenue department, the government has decided to move forward only after assessing a report of the committee appointed by the revenue department.

Dr Ravi informed that the state is assessing the report by the committee chaired CL Meena, who has made several suggestions for land reform and the state will announce the decision soon.

Moreover, as the state anticipate the revised jantri rates, Dr Ravi said that final call will be taken at the state government level.

According to Dr Ravi, the revised mechanism on both jantri rates and non-farmers’ lands will be put for public feedback before implementation.

The new feedback mechanism will register responses regarding 36 services of the online portal, and how it can be improved.

The issues of land usurping will also be reviewed with the collectors in a phased manner.

The state will also take action against encroachments on government land using satellite imagery.

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Non-farmers to be allowed agricultural land purchase in Gujarat?