August 27, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-us-Sani 28, 1424

ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: The government has recently approved four improved and disease-resistant high yielding verities of cotton for commercial cultivation to increase cotton production.

The approved varieties include CIM-499, FH-1000, NIAB-999 and Hybrid Alseemi-151.

Sources in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture said, for enhancing cotton production, principally through increase in hectare yield, the cotton breeding programme focuses on evolving early maturing, climate adoptive, insect pest and disease resistant high yielding varieties with desirable fibre characteristic.—APP