Bengaluru, June 12 : Karnataka would soon amend the Land Reforms Act to allow everyone, including non-agriculturists, to buy and own farmlands across the state for agricultural activities, an official said on Friday. "The state cabinet on Thursday has agreed to amend the Land Reforms Act, 1961 to allow all citizens to purchase agricultural lands for farming or growing vegetables and fruits," a state revenue department official told IANS. Sections 63A, 79A and 79B in the Act bars non-agriculturists from buying farmlands as property in the interest of the farmers who are entitled to buy for growing more foodgrains or other crops. "Though many citizens in urban areas have been keen on taking to farming as an additional occupation or hobby and want to invest in owning farmlands, the sections were preventing them from investing in agricultural land. Abolishing the relevant sections will allow them to buy land from farmers," said the official. According to a section, non-agriculturists can buy farmland only if their annual non-agricultural income is not above Rs 25 lakh. "Besides generating substantial revenue for the cash-starved state government, the proposed amendment will allow those farmers who find the occupation non-remunerative and risky due to droughts or floods and labour shortage to sell their surplus lands to prospective buyers from cities and town," said the official. The Act, however, allows educational and religious institutions, cooperative societies and companies to buy agricultural lands for growing crops to meet their needs or for contract farming to increase the overall foodgrain production. Hundreds of citizens who have been in diverse professions spanning business, manufacturing, services, hospitality, education, health and teaching will get an opportunity to take to farming and serve the nation after the Act is amended. "The Act will be amended in the next legislative assembly session, which will be held after the Covid crisis and not through an ordinance, as the amendments have to be discussed and debated by the lawmakers," the official noted. Welcoming the decision, BJP's Rajya Sabha member K.C. Ramamurthy from Bengaluru said the amendment would allow any citizen to buy farmland in the state. "Though hundreds of people petitioned successive governments for the last 45 years to abolish the 'draconian' sections, they were ignored. I compliment Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and state Revenue Minister R. Ashok for the historic decision," Ramamurthy told IANS. /IANS