New Delhi, May 5 -- In a historic move, India on Sunday released two genome-edited rice varieties - Kamala (DRR Dhan-100) and Pusa DST Rice 1 - marking a global first.

These varieties are expected to boost per-hectare yields by up to 30 per cent and mature 15-20 days earlier than current options.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the new rice types will require less water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Unlike genetically modified crops, genome-edited varieties do not contain foreign genes, making them more acceptable and less regulated under Indian law.

"These seeds will take 4-5 years to reach farmers through the standard seed certification process, but we aim to accelerate that," Chouhan said.

The varietie...