The Commercialisation of Small Holder Agriculture Through Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) in Soybean

Small-scale farming in Zimbabwe has largely been practiced for subsistence purposes because growers cannot afford the high costs of inputs and transport. Poverty reduction among resource-poor soybean growers depends on the adoption and utilization of less expensive alternatives that do not compromise yields. BNF, a system whereby atomspheric nitrogen is converted into nitrogen that can be used by the plant, is an economically attractive option that is 80% cheaper than using equivalent inorganic fertilizers. In this paper we reviewed research on the existing contribution and potential of BNF as a tool for enhancing the commercialisation of small holder agriculture whilst using soybean as the high value commodity and vehicle for poverty reduction.