Kolkata, Nov 23 (IANS): A few states are moving towards the model Agricultural Land Leasing Act which was prepared and circulated to the states, aiming at ensuring better utilisation of asset along with improved credit flow to farmers, an official said on Friday.

"The model land lease law was circulated to state governments in 2016. But very few states are moving towards the model Act. It is a state subject," NITI Aayog's Additional Secretary, Yaduvendra Mathur said.

The objective was for bringing better utilisation of assets and to ensure adequate credit to farmers, he said.

The Niti Aayog released the Model Agricultural Land Leasing Act, 2016 seeking to permit and facilitate leasing of agricultural land to improve access to land by the landless and marginal farmers. It also provides for recognition of farmers cultivating on leased land to enable them to access loans through institutional credit.

"The law should be strong. If any farmer wants to give its land on lease to neighbouring farmers or even his brothers, it should be allowed. In our country, it is not happening because we are not following a model land leasing law," said Mathur.

"On Thursday we wrote to states' chief secretaries to take it up with chief ministers and move towards the model land leasing law," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 12th Environment Partnership Summit organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce.

Some of the states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana have moved towards the model law, he said.

Niti Aayog is also pushing for moving towards a 'national cloud' and Indian data should be kept in the country, he said, adding that the government's think-tank is encouraging ministries and institutions to share data.

He said the NITI Aayog has released a draft paper on the national strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which is now being finalised after getting various public opinions.