Research on World Agricultural Economy

This study aims to analyze the centrality structure of communication networks and the level of fragmentation among stakeholders involved in the development of farmer corporations, focusing on the implications for institutional sustainability. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a survey of 281 farmers with in-depth interviews of key actors from the government, private sector, financial institutions, universities, and extension change agents. Social network analysis (SNA) using UCINET was applied to measure degree, closeness, and betweenness centrality indicators to capture the relational dynamics among stakeholders. The findings reveal that farmer corporation networks in Jayakerta District remain highly centralised in civil servant extension workers and the Ministry of Agriculture. This centralization enhances coordination but creates risks of institutional dependency. Voluntary extension workers demonstrate an important brokerage function by connecting marginalised farmers to central actors and facilitating more inclusive information flows. In contrast, financial institutions and universities remain poorly integrated, reflecting persistent gaps in cross-sector collaboration. To address these challenges, strengthening digital literacy and providing continuous digital mentoring have been identified as key strategies for enhancing inclusivity, reducing fragmentation, and improving institutional resilience. The study recommends that rural development strategies integrate multi-stakeholder collaboration with phased digital adoption, carefully calibrated to the diverse capacities and readiness of local communities. This approach aims to contribute to more sustainable and adaptive institutional arrangements in the long run.