Empowering Millennial Farmers to Enhance the Competitiveness of Local Commodities Through Digital Technology

Abstract

The digital revolution has presented new opportunities for the agricultural sector, especially in increasing the competitiveness of local commodities amid global market trends. This study aims to analyze the role of millennial farmer empowerment in supporting the increase in the competitiveness of local commodities through the use of digital technology. Using qualitative methods based on literature studies and library research, this study examines various scientific literature and relevant policy reports related to digital transformation in the agricultural sector, the involvement of the millennial generation, and technological innovations that have an impact on the efficiency and added value of local agricultural products. The results of the study show that millennial farmers have great potential in accelerating the adoption of digital technologies such as e-commerce platforms, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and social media for product marketing. However, a number of challenges still hinder the optimization of their roles, including limited access to digital infrastructure, lack of training, and weak policy support. Therefore, a holistic empowerment strategy is needed, including technology-based training, entrepreneurial capacity building, and cross-sector collaboration to build an inclusive and sustainable digital agriculture ecosystem. This research makes an important contribution in encouraging agricultural policy reform that is more adaptive to technological developments, as well as encouraging the birth of an innovative and competitive generation of digital farmers.