Digital Farming and Rural Livelihoods Assessing Economic Growth and Social Transformation

Digital farming, often discussed under the labels of smart or precision agriculture, is reshaping agricultural practice through ICT, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision tools. Drawing on a qualitative review of secondary sources, this study examines how these technologies are affecting rural livelihoods, with particular attention to economic change and social reorganization. The evidence suggests that digital farming can raise productivity and improve efficiency by sharpening resource management, supporting quicker decisions, and expanding access to weather and market information. In practical terms, that often translates into lower input costs, higher farm returns, and a modest but important widening of financial inclusion in rural settings. It also helps some farmers bypass intermediaries and reach markets more directly, which can strengthen their bargaining position. The social effects are more uneven, though still significant. Digital tools can improve access to knowledge, support learning, and create new opportunities for women and other marginalized farmers. At the same time, these gains are constrained by weak infrastructure, limited digital literacy, and the initial cost of adoption, all of which may deepen existing inequalities. The study concludes that digital farming holds real promise, but only under inclusive policy frameworks and sustained investment in infrastructure and capacity building.