From Palm to Platform: Addressing the Digital Literacy Needs of Rural Date Farmers in Sistan and Baluchistan

Abstract

This paper explores how inclusive digital literacy, when rooted in cultural context and delivered through trusted rural institutions, can support indigenous knowledge preservation and empower marginalized farming communities. Focusing on date farmers in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, the study draws on qualitative interviews with 23 farmers to understand their traditional knowledge-sharing practices and their interactions with digital tools. The findings reveal that while farmers possess rich agricultural expertise, they face significant barriers to digital engagement, including limited training, mistrust of online content, and lack of culturally relevant resources. Rural libraries emerged as trusted and underutilized spaces for bridging this digital divide. The paper proposes practical, community-driven solutions such as library-led digital literacy programs, the creation of multilingual digital knowledge repositories, and gender-sensitive outreach strategies. By repositioning libraries as intermediaries between traditional and digital systems, this work contributes to a more inclusive vision of digital literacy, one that supports cultural continuity, community resilience, and sustainable rural development.