Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (GAKRIBI) in Gazipur has developed the country’s first high drought-tolerant inbred soybean variety named ‘GAU Soybean 6’. The innovation, led by Professor Dr. M. A. Mannan of the Department of Agronomy, marks the university’s 94th crop variety development. The National Seed Board officially released the variety on November 11, 2025, following five years of successful field evaluation in Noakhali, Lakshmipur, and Bhola with support from Solidaridad Network Asia.

The variety was selected from 250 germplasms collected from Taiwan, Bangladesh, and South Korea after three years of testing. It can withstand severe drought conditions at 50–60% field capacity and yield 3.2–3.8 tons per hectare. Each plant produces 80–100 pods, and the seeds weigh about 230 grams per 1,000. Its low trypsin content enhances protein absorption in poultry feed, making it valuable for the poultry industry. The crop matures in about three months, offering farmers higher returns in less time.

University officials described the innovation as a milestone for sustainable agriculture, with potential to strengthen food security and improve farmer livelihoods in drought-prone coastal regions.