E-commerce has transformed agricultural markets by providing farmers with direct market access and innovative sales channels, particularly in developing economies. While existing studies confirm its positive impact on farmers' income, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of this research domain remains lacking. This study addresses this gap by analyzing 79 Scopus-indexed publications (2008–2025) using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix to examine: (1) the field’s historical evolution, (2) influential publications, nations, institutions, and authors, (3) key papers shaping debates, (4) dominant research themes, (5) emerging trends, and (6) future research directions. The analysis identifies China as the dominant contributor, with Fudan University as the leading institution. Li et al. (2021) study in Food Policy emerges as the most influential work, demonstrating e-commerce’s income-boosting effects through empirical evidence from China. Thematic analysis reveals three research clusters: (i) socio-economic and human-related aspects, (ii) commerce and agricultural efficiency, and (iii) agricultural income and digital divides. Recent trends indicate that COVID-19 accelerated e-commerce adoption as a critical crisis-response mechanism while exposing unequal benefit distribution, particularly favoring commercially oriented farmers. The field is witnessing transformative innovations, including blockchain-based traceability systems and AI-powered marketplaces, though their effectiveness depends on supporting infrastructure such as digital financial services and agricultural cooperative participation. Evidence suggests substantial yet uneven poverty reduction impacts, with vulnerable farming households achieving greater income stability when e-commerce adoption is combined with strengthened social capital networks. Theoretically, this study contributes by applying Innovation Diffusion Theory as its framework. Future research directions include exploring macroeconomic impacts, psychological adoption barriers, and regional disparities in e-commerce usage among farmers. Emerging areas such as AI-powered marketplaces and blockchain traceability require further investigation, alongside gender-inclusive approaches to e-commerce adoption. The study also highlights under-researched areas, including the psychological and macroeconomic effects of e-commerce in developing countries. By providing a systematic overview, this paper establishes a foundation for future research, aiding scholars, policymakers, and stakeholders in leveraging e-commerce’s potential to enhance farmers’ income.