The 22.4 per cent increase in production has been projected on the basis of increase in area under cultivation to 12.4 lakh hectares from 12 lakh hectares during 1997-98.

"Availability of seeds and other inputs have resulted in coverage of large areas under potato," an official release said here on Wednesday.

Prospects of potato production in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar are reported to be very good, the release said.

Uttar Pradesh is likely to produce 90 lakh tonnes as against last year's 64 lakh tonnes and in Haryana production is expected to be up at 2.5 lakh tonnes from 1.5 lakh tonnes last year.

Sowing has been completed in almost all the major states and no shortage of seeds were reported, the release said.

The heavy rains in mid-October caused damage only to the early sown potatoes in Punjab, where about 7,000 hectares of crop was hit of the normal area of 50,000 hectares, it said.

Nearly 12 lakh tonnes of potatoes are currently available in various cold storages in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh which would be made available in the market during the months of November and December, the release said.

Arrivals of newly harvested potatoes from Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar has also started.

"With the availability of stored potato and new arrivals, it is expected that there shall not be any shortage to meet the consumption need," the release added.