GUWAHATI, July 16: Loans of over 2.26 lakh farmers have been waived in Asom as per the Union Budget's provision for farmers' loan waiver even as the State is witnessing a decreasing trend in rice production over the years. As many as 3,51,169 farmers had taken loans in the State since 2001 to 2008, with 2,26,413 farmers getting their loans waived, State Asom Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma informed the Assembly today. She said while commercial banks waived the loans of 1,42,431 farmers, regional rural banks waived the loans of 70,689 faremer, ASCARD Bank waived loans of 108 farmers and the Assam Cooperative Apx Bank waived loans of 13,176 farmers. The land area under paddy cultivation in the State has decreased from 25.36 lakh hectares in 2001-02 to 24.43 lakh hectares in 2007-08 even as the demand for rice went up from 36.59 lakh metric tonnes in 2003-04 to 38.50 lakh metric tonnes in 2007-08, the minister said in reply to a question from former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The State produced 93 per cent of the total rice needed in 2007-08, while the percentage had gone down to 75.80 in the previous year. The State has 30.15 lakh hectares cultivable land, of which 27.52 lakh hectares are used for the purpose. With regard to seed production in the State, 101794.21 quintal seeds were imported in 2007-08, with the 13 seed farms producing foundation seeds and 12 farms producing certified seeds not being able to meet the demand.