I have travelled through many villages in assam and West bengal where farmers grow good crops rice, pulses, vegetables, fruits, honey and also make handmade pickles or spices ( mostly by the woman folk at home ) . But most of the time, they sell these products in local markets without any special name, label or packaging. The price is low and people outside the village never get to know about the product.
Today things are changing. Buyers in towns and cities demand safe, clean and nicely packed products. If farmers can put their items in proper packets with a name, logo and label, the same rice or pickle can sell at a much higher price. This is where the Printing and Branding Services for Farmers come in.
Why farmers need Branding
Imagine a farmer in Durlabhchara who makes pure mustard oil. If he sells it in a simple bottle without a label, he may get only Rs 110 per litre, maximum. But if the same oil is put in a neat bottle with a printed label saying “Cold pressed Pure Assam Mustard Oil – From Local Farmers”, the value goes up to Rs200 to Rs250. Buyers trust the product more because it looks professional.
Branding is not only for the big companies. Even small farmers and self help groups can benefit. It helps them:
- sell products in local shops, not just in weekly markets.
- Reach customers in nearby towns.
- Prepare for selling online on Amazon, flipkart or Whatsapp etc.
Setting up a Printing and Branding service
A young person in a rural area can start this as a small business. Again for this business also you don’t need a big office. A small shop with a computer, printer and internet is enough to start. The main services are:
- Designing labels and logos – using simple software like Canva or Corel draw you can design attractive labels with the farmer’s product name, address and the details provided.
- Printing labels and stickers – A color printer with sticker sheets can handle many small orders. For larger orders, you can connect with printing presses in Guwahati, Kolkata or Silchar.
- packaging ideas – Helping farmers choose bottles, jars, packets or boxes that suit their product.
- Online selling help – Teaching farmers how to take product photos, upload them on websites or sell through Whatsapp and facebook.
How to start with Farmers
At first, you need to build trust. Farmers may not understand why labels and packaging are so important. You can:
- show them examples of packed products from markets.
- Print a few sample labels with their product name for free.
- Explain how branding can increase the price and show similar products that are sold in stores.
Once they see the difference they will start placing orders. Small farmers, women’s self help groups, and local cooperatives are the best starting clients.
Investment needed
This business does not need heavy money. A good color printer, computer and internet connection may cost around Rs50000 to Rs70 000 or even less. Later, you can add a laminator and a better quality printer.
For packaging, you don’t have to buy stock yourself. Farmers usually buy their own bottles or packets, you just guide them to good suppliers. Your main cost is in design and printing thats all.
How to Earn
There are different ways to charge:
- Designing fee : Rs500 to Rs2000 for a logo or product label.
- Printing fee : Rs20 to Rs30 per sticker depending on size and color.
- Complete branding package – Logo, labels, and online selling support can be charged as a package at Rs5000 to Rs10000.
Even if you start small with 5 to 10 farmers, you can easily earn Rs20000 to Rs40000 per month once work grows.
Helping with online selling
Branding alone is not enough. Farmers also need help to sell their products outside their villages. This is where you can provide extra services:
- Taking good product photos with a smartphone.
- Writing simple product descriptions in English and local languages.
- Listing products on Amazon, flipkart or a government e-marketplace (GeM).
- helping with facebook or Whatsapp groups to reach local buyers.
Even if farmers are not fully ready for online selling, they can start with nearby towns first. Slowly, with packaging and trust their products can reach bigger markets.
Skills You need
You do not need to be a big designer. Basic computer skills are enough. Free tools like canva already have many ready made templates for labels. Over tim, you can learn more advanced design from Youtube or short courses.
You should also have some knowledge about packaging materials, like food safe packets, glass jars or bottle so you can guide the farmers properly.
Problems You may face
Like any business, this work also has many challenges.
- farmers may not want to spend money on labels at first. you need patience to explain.
- Some may copy big brands’ designs, which can cause legal trouble. Always make original labels.
- Printing quality may not be as good with a small printer. For bigger orders tie up with city printers.
Future growth
Once your branding service becomes popular, you can add more related work:
- Billboards and posters for farmers’ cooperatives.
- social media promotion for the local products.
- Bulk packaging supply—buying bottles, jars or packets in bulk and reselling to farmers at fair prices.
- Training workshops where you teach groups how to brand and sell.
Over time this small business can become a full Printing and Branding Agency for farmers, helping many villages at once.
To End with
Printing and branding is not just about stickers. It is about giving identity and respect to the farmers’ hard work. With simple labels, neat packaging and small online selling help, local products from Assam or Bengal can reach many new markets. for young people this is both a business opportunity and a way to support rural communities.
A farmer’s rice, honey or pickles deserve more than a nameless packet. With the right branding, they can shine in shops and online stores and the person helping them can build a steady business in the process.