Rice is amongst the most consumed foods. Eastern and Southeastern Asian countries have rice as their staple food.so, it’s evident that these countries encourage crop cultivation on a larger scale.

However, a big challenge for rice farmers and traders today is its proper storage and management. A good quantity of rice still goes to waste due to insufficient storage and improper paddy management techniques. The suppliers of the best basmati rice in India or anywhere else depend on a high-grade storage system.

Therefore, many countries need an efficient infrastructure to implement a modern storage system and post-harvesting management for rice. Here’s a small guide to help you out with rice storage.

Post-Harvest Management challenges and solutions 

After you have harvested the paddy, keeping it safe for many more months to come is not that easy. If the crop is not well managed after harvesting, it will go to waste due to insect and pest damage.  

There are two main issues related to post-harvest management. These are regarding drying of the paddy and then rice storage. 

Drying the Paddy

Once you harvest paddy, the biggest challenge that the farmers face is to dry it. While a basic drying process is necessary, it is often not enough. With basic drying, you can only slightly lower the moisture content. You need to reduce moisture as much as possible so that the paddy is free from mold growth.

To dry the paddy entirely before storage, you must tackle these two issues efficiently.

Preparing the grains to reduce moisture content 

Rice grains must be free of moisture before storing it. But that is a big post-harvest challenge. You need to consistently monitor the moisture rate so it does not exceed unmanageable levels. 

When farmers harvest rice, it has 24%-26% moisture content. Therefore, farmers must dry rice grains to reduce their moisture levels to at least 14%. That is the level at which rice can be stored. Basmati rice exporters in India should be aware of and check moisture levels to maintain its best quality.

Dealing with unpredictable weather conditions

Another thing to consider when drying the paddy is the unpredictable weather conditions. Farmers have been using conventional methods such as sun-drying paddy. However, farmers and traders cannot do much about the weather due to its frequent changing conditions. Rice is easily susceptible to changes in weather conditions.

Wet weather conditions cause discoloration, mold growth, and spoilage of rice grains. So, only a specifically designed drying system can tackle unpredictable weather conditions to keep it safe and secure. You can set up an indoor drying system to remove moisture content from paddy.

Monitoring levels of moisture

High levels of moisture in rice will ultimately result in the loss of grain and money to the farmers. So, it’s important to reduce moisture content as much as possible during the production and storage stages. Use high-tech moisture detecting tools to check it regularly. Many basmati rice manufacturers in India practice this to monitor the moisture amount.

Eliminating insects and pests

Insects and pests must also be managed adequately, as these damage rice after harvesting. When the grains are stored, there is a high chance that insects will feed on them aggressively. Those insects will damage the paddy and grain in many ways. Possibilities can’t be ruled out that paddy or grains might get infested before storage.

So, use latest techniques to keep the pests at bay. Choose large-scale rice storage containers that are airtight. A well-equipped storage facility employs all the modern techniques to eradicate insects and pests infestation.

As you can see, these are the major rice storage and post-harvest management issues that farmers and traders face. Consistent monitoring of the rice quality is essential to conducting trade. Well-equipped storage facilities, modem tools, and techniques ensure great quality rice for export.

Wrapping Up 

Rice is a staple diet across the world. However, rice storage and post-harvest management are essential to put in place to feed the world. Farmers and traders should be aware of the proper way to dry the paddy and prepare it for export. The use of the latest technology and equipment simplifies post-harvest maintenance and storage.