Government has signed an agreement with International Rice Research Institute for the establishment of the institute’s South Asia Regional Centre at Varanasi. Farm Secretary signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the institute’s Director General concerning the same. This agreement opens up more exciting collaborative activities in developing higher-yielding and more nutritious rice varieties that also meet the eating preferences of consumers. Improved quality of rice would also ensure higher benefits to farmers. The Union Cabinet had on Jul 12 approved the proposal to set up the International Rice Research Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre at the campus of National Seed Research and Training Centre in Varanasi.