The Dual Role of Middlemen in Triwungan Village in the Utilization of Digital Technology to Improve the Economic Welfare of Tobacco Farmers
Article Sidebar
Page Numbers:
2429-2448
Digital Object Identifier:
10.58578/mikailalsys.v4i2.10806
Viewed: 1 times
Downloaded: 0 times
LYAS Publisher cordially invites qualified professionals to serve as Editors or Reviewers. Your expertise will make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the academic quality of our publications. Interested applicants are kindly requested to complete the application form at the following link: Editors & Reviewers
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information about the submission process or if you have any additional questions.
Authors:
Laily Fitriya1*, Rizki Febri Eka Pradani2 
Copyright :
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study is motivated by the continuing dependence of tobacco farmers on middlemen for capital access, market information, and product distribution, despite the growing influence of digital technology on agricultural communication and marketing practices. This study aims to analyze the dual role of middlemen in Triwungan Village, Kotaanyar District, Probolinggo Regency, in utilizing digital technology and to examine its implications for the economic welfare of tobacco farmers. A qualitative approach with a descriptive design was employed. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation, with informants selected using purposive sampling. The data were analyzed through reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing, while validity was ensured through source and method triangulation. The findings indicate that middlemen perform a dual role not only as intermediaries in crop marketing but also as providers of capital, sources of market information, and key connectors within the tobacco distribution chain. The use of WhatsApp has accelerated communication and transaction processes; however, digitalization has not substantially altered the structural dependence of farmers on middlemen. Instead, it has strengthened the position of middlemen within the marketing system. Consequently, although farmers experience improved access to information and greater communication efficiency, their bargaining position remains relatively weak. This study concludes that digital technology, when embedded within unequal agrarian marketing relations, may reinforce intermediary dominance rather than automatically improve farmers’ economic independence. The findings contribute to a more contextual understanding of digitalization in rural agricultural economies and offer practical implications for strengthening farmer-centered market access, digital literacy, and bargaining capacity.
Citation Metrics:
Downloads
Article Details
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Afridhianika, A. N., & Yudhianto, K. A. (2025). Optimalisasi Pemasaran Hasil Pertanian melalui Digitalisasi Agribisnis bagi Kelompok Tani di Wilayah Perdesaan. Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Mentari, 1(8), 325–330. https://doi.org/10.59837/jpmm.v1i8.68
Akbar, T. S. W., Sari, A., Winarni, R., Raspati, G., & Jaya, U. A. (2025). Analisis Sistem Pemasaran Titip Jual melalui Tengkulak dan Keberlanjutan Ekonomi Petani di Desa Pawenang, Kecamatan Nagrak, Kabupaten Sukabumi. MBA Journal: Management, Business Administration, and Accounting Journal, 2(1), 33–40. https://ojs.sains.ac.id/index.php/mba-journal/article/view/82
Akin, M. A., Rahman, U., & Ondeng, S. (2026). Memahami Konsep Dasar Penelitian Kualitatif. TEACHING: Jurnal Inovasi Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, 6(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.51878/teaching.v6i1.8850
Alfiaturrohmah, S., Sukarniati, L., & Marwanto, A. D. (2025). Analisis Tingkat Kesejahteraan Petani Karet di Desa Sukowarno Kecamatan Sukakarya. Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisipin, 3(3), 72–76. https://doi.org/10.60126/jim.v3i3.844
Arissaryadin, Sidhi, E. Y., Artini, W., Lisanty, N., & Agustina, L. (2024). Analisis Ketergantungan Petani pada Tengkulak di Desa Pakopen. Jurnal Ilmu Pertanian Nasional (JINTAN), 4(2), 132–140.
Aristayudha, A. A. N. B., Richadinata, K. R. P., & Indraswari, N. P. F. D. (2025). Transformasi Digital: Meningkatkan Pemasaran Hasil Pertanian melalui Media Sosial. UNBI Mengabdi, 6(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.34063/um.v6i1.399
Arofah, S. N., & Setiawan, A. H. (2022). Analisis Determinan Penawaran Tembakau (Studi Kasus: Fenomena Patron-Klien antara Petani Tembakau dan Tengkulak di Desa Katekan, Kecamatan Ngadirejo, Temanggung). BISECER (Business Economic Entrepreneurship), 5(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.61689/bisecer.v5i1.291
Arsyad, M., Heliawaty, H., Kawamura, Y., & Yusuf, S. (2018). Agricultural development-marketing nexus: Is tengkulak truly enemy of smallholders in Indonesian rural area? International Journal of Agriculture System, 6(1), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.20956/ijas.v6i1.1498
Fukuyama, F. (1995). Trust: The social virtues and the creation of prosperity. Free Press.
Hardinawati, L. U., & Fauzy, R. M. Q. (2014). Alasan Petani Muslim Menjual Hasil Panen kepada Tengkulak di Desa Glagahagung Kecamatan Purwoharjo Kabupaten Banyuwangi [Skripsi, Universitas Airlangga]. https://repository.unair.ac.id/3263/
Hayati, R., Armadi, Y., & Al-Amin. (2025). Peningkatan Kesejahteraan Petani melalui Sistem Ekonomi Berbasis Agroindustri Modern. Journal of Community Dedication, 5(2), 302–310. https://adisampublisher.org/index.php/pkm/article/view/1059
Himawan, R. F., Santosa, W., Darasih, R., & Widowati, D. (2025). Peran Ketahanan Rantai Pasok dalam Memediasi Pengaruh Digitalisasi Rantai Pasok terhadap Kinerja Rantai Pasok. Jurnal Ekonomi Manajemen Sistem Informasi, 7(1), 297–304. https://doi.org/10.38035/jemsi.v7i1.5688
Ibrahim, F., Rasmira, & Maifianti, K. S. (2022). Analisis Kesejahteraan Petani Tembakau Dampak Politik Kebijakan Pemerintah di Masa Pandemi. BULLET: Jurnal Multidisiplin Ilmu, 1(4), 553–559. https://journal.mediapublikasi.id/index.php/bullet/article/view/804
Prasetyo, A., & Samudro, B. R. (2023). Tinjauan Perspektif Ekonomi Politik dalam Tata Niaga Tembakau. Salam: Islamic Economics Journal, 4(1), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.24042/slm.v4i1.16985
Prasetyo, W. (2017). Paradoks Ganda Kos Produksi Petani Tembakau (Studi Fenomenologi pada Petani Tembakau di Kabupaten Jember). Jurnal Ekonomi dan Bisnis, 20(1), 67–82. https://doi.org/10.24914/jeb.v20i1.611
Puspitasari, R. D. (2019). Pertanian Berkelanjutan Berbasis Revolusi Industri 4.0. Jurnal Layanan Masyarakat (Journal of Public Services), 3(1), 26–28. https://doi.org/10.20473/jlm.v3i1.2019.26-28
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.
Qomaruddin, Q., & Sa’diyah, H. (2024). Kajian Teoritis tentang Teknik Analisis Data dalam Penelitian Kualitatif: Perspektif Spradley, Miles dan Huberman. Journal of Management, Accounting, and Administration, 1(2), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.52620/jomaa.v1i2.93
Roy, R., & Sarkar, V. (2023). Utilization of social media by input dealers for information need in agriculture. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 41(11), 329–333. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2023/v41i112289
Sahadewo, G. A., Drope, J., Witoelar, F., Li, Q., & Lencucha, R. (2021). The economics of tobacco farming in Indonesia: Results from two waves of a farm-level survey. Tobacconomics, Health Policy Center, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago. https://www.economicsforhealth.org/research/the-economics-of-tobacco-farming-in-indonesia-results-from-two-waves-of-a-farm-level-survey/
Sahputra, I., Yurni, I., Syukriah, S., Agusniar, C., Nisa, F., & Sukiman, T. S. A. (2024). Pemanfaatan Teknologi Informasi Digital untuk Meningkatkan Produktivitas Petani. Jurnal Malikussaleh Mengabdi, 3(2), 452–459. https://doi.org/10.29103/jmm.v3i2.20424
Yaqin, A., Ridho, M. I., & Uluf, W. T. (2025). Dinamika Sosial-Ekonomi Petani Tembakau di Indonesia: Studi Kesejahteraan dan Keberlanjutan. I’THISOM: Jurnal Ekonomi Syariah, 4(1), 574–584. https://doi.org/10.70412/its.v4i1.169