Digital Marketplaces and E-Commerce Platforms for Rural Farmers in Limpopo Province, South Africa: Transforming Agricultural Value Chains and Rural Entrepreneurship

Digital technologies are on the trajectory of reshaping agricultural markets and rural economic systems across developing regions. This article examines how digital marketplaces and e-commerce platforms influence income generation, agricultural value chains, and entrepreneurship among rural farmers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study employs a systematic literature review methodology to synthesise recent scholarly and institutional literature on digital agriculture, rural digital markets, and e-commerce adoption among smallholder farmers. Academic databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were used to identify relevant publications produced between the year 2020 to the most recent publications of 2026. The findings indicate that digital marketplaces allow farmers to reach wider consumer markets, lessen their reliance on intermediaries, and enhance price transparency and profitability for primary producers. Evidence also shows that e-commerce platforms enhance value chain coordination and support the emergence of rural agricultural entrepreneurship. However, persistent challenges remain, including digital literacy gaps, infrastructure limitations, and unequal access to internet connectivity. The article contributes to the growing body of research on digital transformation in agriculture by highlighting the opportunities and structural barriers associated with rural digital commerce. The findings suggest that targeted policy interventions, digital infrastructure investment, and capacity development programmes are necessary to maximise the benefits of digital marketplaces for smallholder farmers in Limpopo and other rural regions.