ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the nature of financial losses and the means by which farmers, millers, and government agencies can increase the efficiency of all phases of rice handling from harvesting to final delivery to the consumer. It is based on material prepared by James E. Wimberly, rice processing engineer of the International Rice Research Institute. The chief consideration in harvesting is the degree of maturity of the grain, which is determined by measuring moisture content. The optimum moisture content of the rice grain at harvest time is 21 to 24 percent. In addition, threshing early harvested paddy is more difficult. Since many farmers continue to thresh by hand or to drive oxen or tractors over the harvested crop, they are interested in at least medium threshability. In Asia, where most farms are no larger than 2 hectares, the fact that the farmer cannot afford to purchase equipment for cleaning or drying is a major problem.
