After touching a record production of 130 million kg in 1997, with national crop standing at 825 million kg, the state tea production fell to 123 million kg in 1998, when the national crop recorded 870 million kg, according to the figures available from the Planters' Association of Tamil Nadu

In the current year, tea crop from the state is running five to 10 per cent below the last year's crop, it said.

Likewise, the coffee crop has almost stagnated for several years now, with 1998-99 figures recording 17,700 tonnes.

However, the state harvested 20,572 tonnes of rubber in 1998-99 as against 19,850 tonnes in the previous year. With regard to cardamom, it witnessed a perilous fall to about 350 tonnes in 1998 from the previous levels of 700-750 tonnes, it said.