How to Measure Moisture Content in Rice

Moisture content is basically the weight of water that is contained in the rice or paddy which is expressed in percentage. This is referred to the wet basis that means the total weight of the grain inclusive of water.

Why is it important?

It is extremely important to measure the content of moisture in the rice because of the managing and marketing of paddy and rice. Due to different purposes of rice that depends on different ideal moisture contents makes the testing of accurate moisture content essential. If there are inaccurate measurements of moisture content, it can lead to different serious scenarios:

1. If the grain is extremely wet in the storage, it will get spoiled.
2. In case the grain is too solid means very dry, it will result in the weight loss of these grains that means loss in profit.
3. If paddy is harvested wetter than what is required, it will lead to extra drying cost and also loss in harvesting.
4. When rice is milled at wrong moisture content, there is lower head rice.
5. If you dry the paddy too far, it results in extra drying cost along with loss in the quality of the rice.

How to measure the moisture content?

There are two methods of measuring the moisture of content in grain:

1. Primary Method - It is based on the weight measurements such as infrared moisture balance and oven method.
2. Secondary Method - Electronic instruments are used in this method that makes use of electrical characteristics of grain.

When it comes to measuring the moisture content, there are a number of portable grain moisture meters that can be used. Make sure, when you are selecting a meter for this purpose, that it is suitable for the activity that you are going to use it for, such as milling grain or harvesting Paddy.

The type of portable moisture meter used in:

Harvesting - Here, to measure MC use a resistance moisture meter that can provide you quick results with small samples only. If you have low MC, you will have more losses from shattering and higher Mc will result in losses from poor grain quality.

Drying - The seeds should be dried below 12% and grains below 14% as improper drying will lead to low see and grain quality. In order to avoid any damage, dry the paddy within 24 hrs after the harvesting.

Storage - In the initial weeks and months, MC percentage should be 14% or less and in 8 to 12 months, it should be 13% or less.

Milling - The standard MC is between 13% and 14%.

Nextech Solutions is an Indian-based Rice Milling Plant Consultant with years of experience in the rice milling industry. They provide services like rice cleaning, rice processing, parboiling, drying, and grading.

Article Source: Ezine Articles

Advanced Rice Blending Solutions

Rice milling refers to the process of removing the hulls and bran from the raw paddy grains and thus producing polished rice. Rice is a crop that is rich in genetic diversity, having a thousand of variants grown worldwide. It is one of the most consumed cereals worldwide. Today, this grain is helping 2/3 of the total world population to sustain. It is life for thousands of people and is also deeply engaged in the heritage of several countries and societies including south Asian countries. About four-fifths of the world's rice is produced by the small-scale farmers and is consumed locally.

Milling refers to the process in which the grains are transformed in the suitable human consumption, and thus, it has to be done with utmost care to prevent the breaking of kernels and improving recovery. Rice grains also called as grains consist of brown rice and husk. Brown rice, in turn, consists of bran comprising the outer layer and the edible portion.

The extent of the recovery during the milling process is dependent on several factors like the degree of milling required a variety of paddy, quality of equipment used, the operator, etc. As and when the countries reach the self-sufficiency state of rice production, the demand of the consumer to get a better quality of rice increases. The quality of rice is hard to define in terms as it rests on the intended user and consumer of the grains.

The grain quality is not only proportional to the variety of rice, but also in the environment of production of crop, harvesting, processing as well as milling system.

The last step in the modern milling process is removing the broken rice grains from the milled rice with the help of blender machines. The screen separators and the sifters are used to separate the small broken rice, also known as brewer rice from the complete and large broken. Sifting also removes germs and brand and are present in the milled rice, even after the process of polishing and whitening.

The large broken and whole grains are either bagged for the customer delivery or are further processed through the length graders. From millers catering to the high end or export market, the length graders and the blending stations are used. The length grading process separates the broken rice from the large broken. Further, the rice blender helps in mixing the head rice and broken in right proportion as per the specification of the grade standards. For example, the premium grade rice in some countries allows for 95% head rice and 5% broken.

In usual rice-growing countries, the milled rice is marketed in bags, and thus, bagging stations form an integral part of the modern rice mill. The size of the bags is dependent on the requirements of the customers or suggestions made by rice mill consultants. The larger rice mills catering to the supermarket, milled rice are packaged in plastic packs of 2, 5, 10 and 20kg, and packaging is fully mechanized.

Blending station:- The rice blending solutions allows the mixing of the head and broken rice in the right proportion, as per the specifications of the grading standards.

With extensive experience in milling and grain processing, Nextech Solutions is a globally operating milling and plant designing consultant helping in grain processing, milling, and storage.

Article Source: EzineArticles

Optimized Rice Processing Equipment and Solutions

Rice is possibly the grain that has been cultivated for a longer time and more extensively, occupying approximately 9% of the total arable land and is the second cereal in importance for human nutrition, after wheat. It is currently the food base of two-thirds of the world's population.

Grinding in rice differs completely from that of wheat. Wheat is milled to obtain flour, while rice grinding includes husking, bran removal and finally separation of broken and damaged grains.

Rice from the field is the whole, known worldwide as "paddy" or paddy rice; contains fibrous and inedible outer shell called husk (glumes and glumes). When the peel is removed, but the pericarp (the bran) and the germ are preserved, brown rice is obtained, which after polishing is transformed into white rice. Rice is produced only for human consumption as a feed.

The most important quality criteria for rice are the grinding efficiency, the appearance of the raw grain, the cooking behavior and the texture and aroma of the cooked grain. The milling yield is a measure of the proportion of unbroken whole grains and reflects the variety, conditions of cultivation, harvesting and subsequent management. In the appearance of the raw grain the biometry (dimensions and shape of the grain), the color and characteristics of the pearl (dark areas of the grain, without crystallinity) participate.

The rice is transported to the rice mill plant, then it is emptied into hoppers, which using elevators and conveying augers is taken to the silo receiving damp rice, and from there they are distributed to the different towers of drying, according to the size of the modern rice mill plant. In these towers, the rice is subjected to a drying process by air or heat to reduce the moisture of the grain, to the optimal parameters for its storage (12.5% - 13.5%).

During storage, the rice is attacked by insects, rodents and fungi, which will affect the product under different weather conditions. The reduction can influence the quantity; hence, corrective measures are taken to prevent these agents from being combated quickly and efficiently.

The rice, after being dried and stored, passes to the rice milling machine where it will be processed for the consumption of the population.

Mill plant layout and Design

As a first step, the dry paddy rice is passed to a cleaning machine, which will give it a final purification process. Then they are moved to a rubber roller shell where the grain is separated from the shell by 95%, expelling is covered, and the product is peeled with part of it. These peeled grains are sent to the densimetric table where the separation of rice is done. The peeled grain follows the process towards the rice polishers, where the removal of the surface layer or bran is done; this method is called grain polishing. Rice bran or "powder" is used as animal feed; the polished rice is transported towards the classifiers where the whole grain is separated, and the broken grain is classified.

After the rice is processed, it is transferred to the packer to be packed either in plastic bags or bags.

Nextech Grain Processing & Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd.is a reputed firm working in the field of Grain and Seed industry. The experienced, sincere and always reachable professionals commit towards satisfaction and quality work.

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Why Should You Eat Parboiled Rice Every Day?

People often question that how come the Japanese are so fit and slim despite eating rice and noodles on a daily basis? While there are numerous reasons behind their physical dexterity, one vital fact is that they don't consume the regular white rice but parboiled rice. 

Parboiled rice, also known as converted rice, is the grain that is partially boiled in the husk in order to augment its nutritional profile for added benefits. But what benefits? While there are various kinds of rice grains ranging from white rice to brown rice to black rice, every specific variety has its own advantages. Parboiled Rice though stands a cut above them. Although it isn't yet officially declared as the healthiest rice (considering there are thousands of categories), it is certainly the most effective one for the following reasons: -

1. Increases Metabolism

Parboiled rice is a great source of vitamin B-9, or Folate. Since our body is dependable on the specified vitamin and amino acids, the compound helps increase the rate of metabolism. Half-cup cooked parboiled rice incorporates approximately 100 micrograms of Folate which is near thirty percent of the daily required quantity for both the men and the women.

2. Amplifies Levels Of Oxygen

Converted rice is also an excellent source of Iron. Half-cup serving of the grain incorporates approximately 1.4 milligrams of the element which is around 20 percent of the daily required quantity for both the men and the women. According to a study, Iron helps our body in sensing the levels of oxygen present in the tissues and furthermore distributes oxygen through our bloodstream.

3. Regulates The Activities Of Thyroid Gland

Utmost advantage of boiled rice is that it provides us with Selenium, a chemical element which help in regulating the thyroid gland via controlling the activities of thyroid hormones and thus, resulting in prevention of chubbiness or getting underweight. Half-cup of serving of cooked parboiled rice incorporates approximately 7.3 micrograms of Selenium radicals which is near 15 percent of the daily required quantity for both men and the women.

4. Prevents Cardiovascular Risks

Parboiled rice also contains Niacin i.e. Vitamin B3 which not only supports the metabolism of the body but also helps the cells in carrying out the necessary chemical reactions to breakdown fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy and thus keeps the cholesterol levels under control. Half-cup serving of parboiled rice incorporates approximately 1.8 micrograms of Niacin which is near fifteen percent of the daily required quantity for both the men and the women.

So, instead of believing in the half-authentic fact that eating rice regularly can make you obese, remember that daily consumption of parboiled rice is favorable for your body as it helps in maintaining good health. Converted rice is available for purchase mostly everywhere albeit it's a bit expensive as compared to white rice.

If interested in knowing more about rice grains, contact 'Nextech Solutions', India's leading Rice Mill manufacturing and consultancy firm.

Article Source: EzineArticles

Setting Up a Rice Milling Business in India

In India, rice is cultivated on a mass scale. Rice is one of its most important dietary staples and more than 65% of its human population relies on rice for its daily food requirement. The rice crop occupies more than 37% of the total crop area in India and accounts for almost 44% of all the food grains produced in the country.

An integral process of rice production is rice milling. And just like in any nation where rice is produced on a large scale, rice milling has been around for a very long time in India. The need for milling arises because paddy cannot be consumed in its raw form and requires suitable processing.

Owing to this huge global demand for rice, rice milling, today, is a fast-growing agro-business which you can successfully leverage for financial benefits. However, being a commercially profitable business, setting up a rice mill requires extensive knowledge and capital.

If you can manage to arrange the capital requirement, you must read further to learn how to set up a rice milling industry in India:

1. Decide the rice milling type: One pass, two step or commercial: The one pass process is one where husk and bran layers are removed in a single pass. The two step process does it separately; it requires traditional machinery and equipment and is mostly done for consumption within the local community. Commercial milling is an extensive process which requires the use of modern milling machinery. It is done mainly with a view to export the produce. Unlike the two processes mentioned above, it involves a number of processes:

• Pre-cleaning
• De-stoning
• Removing husk
• Husk aspiration
• Paddy removal
• Polishing
• Whitening
• Grading and separating
• Blending
• Mist polishing
• Weighing and Bagging
• Storing

2. Gain knowledge: learn from the experts: Before you plunge into rice milling business, it's important for you to take a look at the environment and understand the important facts about rice milling industry in your area. Learn the pitfalls and challenges involved, have a feel of the different processes involved. Basically, learn as much as you can in the shortest time span.

3. Devise a business plan: A lot of factors are into play and you cannot enter this competitive industry without a detailed strategy. Since you've already acquired the basic know how, now you need to put everything into a plan. Clearly mention your business's aims and objectives, p&l analysis, projected earnings, target market, staff requirement, competition, etc. All in all, keep a tab on everything required to get you up and running.

4. Obtain permits and licenses: To actualize the rice milling venture, you need to obtain certain licenses from the Government of India. You need to:

• Register your business with Registrar of Companies
• Registration with Udyog Aadhaar MSME
• Factory license
• Obtain Consent to Establish and Operate from Pollution Control Board
• Obtain license as per Rice Milling Industry Act, 1958
• VAT Registration

One must also comply with ESIC and PFA registration for the employees.

If you wish to export, you also need to obtain Import-Export Code.

5. Acquire land: Get your hands on a suitable location which is easily accessible.

6. Buy and Install equipment: Some of the machines in use today are:

• Rice cleaner
• Rice de-stoner
• Rice Husker
• Colour sorter
• Paddy separator
• Rice polisher and whitener
• Rice grader
• Dryer, etc.

Since it solely depends on your requirements and business scale, it's best to consult a rice milling expert. They will also help you set up the machinery.

The final step in starting a rice milling business is acquiring the raw materials and starting with the production. Since it's important to maintain production all through the year, it's important that you receive guaranteed supplies. You can:

• Start with your own rice farming
• Buy from suppliers, i.e. farmers or farmer markets

Nextech Agri Solutions is a grain processing and engineering consultant equipped with all the necessary expertise required for Basmati rice processing.

Article Source: EzineArticles

How KRBL, India's Largest Basmati Exporter Rose To Fame

Rice is the staple diet of most of the people of the country. And when it comes to anything, a rational person will definitely prefer nothing except the best. And in the case of rice, the question does not even arise after you come across Basmati Rice or India Gate Basmati Rice to be on a clearer note. You can be dining in any corner of the world, you will be happy to find that the India Gate Basmati Rice is an integral ingredient of all the rice recopies out there.

It is correctly said that Basmati Rice is just the same as wine- the older the better. With a heritage which is approximately 120 years old, the production chain of this particular rice exporter is quite comprehensive. With the evolution and many other changes, finally in 1947, the main stream that is rice production had been chosen by the company owners. And today, it stands to be on the topmost position within its forte.

The core mandate of the KRBL rice exporter has always been on the size as well as its expansion. If we start to talk about the contact farming or the topic of milling operations, the vision was always vivid and huge. This is one of the main reasons of the rising potential of the firm.

KRBL has always strived for growth thus concluding to become the greatest.

The paddy rice mill plantations of this particular rice exporter are spread and located in astounding and populated places like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. This is a clear cut indication of a better output thus leading to an increase in the sales and ultimately the turnover. The machinery being operated at all the production locations is much efficient which is good enough to maintain a consistency of produce which each and every possible grain.

Each and every organization has some social responsibility to complete. In a materialistic world like today's where most of the enterprises ignore this very fact for the sake of profits, KRBL rice exporter is one such enterprise which is not letting our trust and faith shake by producing husk-fuelled power in their production plants and thus completing its social responsibility.

KRBL is known to have successfully included 3 generations with the aromatic basmati rice grain. This is a fact f quite a surprise that it possesses a milling capacity of 195 metric tonne an hour; KRBL is the largest rice miller over and around.

Overall, it is an integrated as well as a well established player in the field of keeping the value of the basmati chain higher. Be it the process of having a perfect seed development, or modern farming procurement, or grading or processing, the branding and marketing of the basmati rice is commendable. The domestic sales comprise of 55% of the total sales and the rest amount being the exports to various other destinations.

Value added products are being products too which directly shows the outstanding working and production ability of the company which adds to the fame factor of the company.

Nextech Agri Solutions is a promising manufacturer and exporter of finest rice mill machinery and equipments and a leader in installing rice mill machinery. Visit: https://goo.gl/qj33Pz

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Major Importing Countries Of Basmati Rice

In the period of worldwide markets and the subsequent improvement of universal licensed innovation rights, clashes emerge between industrialized countries looking to grow new items from plants, and creating countries trying to profit by their indigenous vegetation. One case is the contention over basmati rice. Since quite a while ago recognized as beginning in the Indian sub-landmass, basmati rice is prized for its unmistakable fragrance, season, and long, slim, fleecy grains.

A standout amongst the most essential measures of numerous Asian nations' financial execution is the cost and nature of its rice. It's no big surprise, at that point, that policymakers have taken huge walks in endeavoring to control the flow of their national rice exchange request to balance out their particular residential markets. The five best shippers of rice are in charge of around 30% of the aggregate worldwide exchange, and the main ten are dependable around half of aggregate rice imports around the world. A large portion of the real players, including the latest best merchant, China, are situated in Asia, which is the landmass most in charge of movements on the planet's rice showcase. Other huge rice-bringing in nations incorporate Nigeria, the Philippines, Iran, and Indonesia.

A considerable lot of the real players, including the latest best shipper, China, are situated in Asia, which is the landmass most in charge of movements on the planet's rice showcase. Other noteworthy rice-bringing in nations incorporate Nigeria, the Philippines, Iran, and Indonesia. A lot of the rice mill plants have been established seeing the necessity of rice as a food supplement. The increasing demand in the current scenario is the basis of increase and expansion of the business of the basmati rice exporters.

The future of rice trade:

In spite of massive increases in the course of recent years, the worldwide rice advertise has been experiencing a few times of compression over the recent years. Notwithstanding this, the world's rice exchange is required to experience real development in years to come, as key nations keep on initiating projects to build their rice generation and radically chopped down their reliance on imported rice.

As the world's best buyers of rice modernize their ways of life and enhance their separate eating regimens, interest for new assortments of rice is additionally anticipated that would increment, taking into account different nations to assume progressively essential parts in the worldwide rice advertise. China's uncommon development in 2015 came as amazement and, to this date, regardless of whether it will keep on dominating the market remains an intense inquiry to reply. Specialists guarantee that by the year 2040 an extra rice supply of no under 112 million tons will be required to take care of the developing worldwide demand, particularly if nations like Africa neglect to address their own developing populaces and in this manner more noteworthy sustenance asset necessities.

A Basmati rice plant needs to be equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and milling equipment for optimum rice consistency. Nextech Agri Solutions is a leading basmati rice plant consultant in India.

Article Source: EzineArticles

Methods Of Processing Pulses

Pulses are for the most part devoured as de husked parts, generally known as dal. The external layer of the grain (husk) is connected to the protein and starch bearing cotyledons of the beat grains. In a few grains like pigeonpea, mungbean and urdbean, this holding is solid because of the nearness of a layer of gums in the middle of the husk and the cotyledons. These are known as hard to-factory beats. In different grains like chickpea, pea, lathyrus and so on, this holding is relatively weaker. Such grains can be processed effortlessly and are classified as simple to-factory beats. This external husk layer is required to be isolated from the cotyledons and thusly split in two parts before devoured as dal. The procedure of expulsion of husk from the cotyledons is called de husking and the whole procedure of de husking and consequent part of cotyledons, it's cleaning and evaluating is known as processing with the other name being milling.

In the majority of the plants in India, paddy drying solutions is one technique which is generally rehearsed. Grains are spread in thin layer on pucca floor under the sun and blended as often as possible with rake/feet for drying. This operation makes procedure of dal processing an extremely long requiring (2-3 days). For this situation, sun-dried grains require more passes and expends more vitality. The drying time with the utilization of dryers ranges between 2-3 hrs, which brings about huge efficient. Dryers are utilized as a part of few plants that too in blustery seasons for drying of treated grains.

There are two approaches to encourage processing, which are: interchanged wetting as well as the drying strategy. The latter is the most usually utilized strategy when it comes to the processes for sorting solutions. The necessary information related to both the methods is stated below.

The Dry Method - here is a point-wise depiction of the procedure.

• Cleaning - Elimination of the dust, the dirt as well as the chaff happens.
• Evaluating - Grains are evaluated by size.
• Setting - Splitting and scratching of husk happens utilizing an emery roller machine.
• Pre-treatment with oil - Linseed oil is utilized as a part of the hollowed pulses. The oil is utilized at a rate of 1.5 to 2.5 kg/ton of pulses.
• Molding - Molding is finished by drying the pulses in the sun and including dampness content till it achieves 10-12 % took after by treating.
• De husking and part - For de husking, a silicon carbide covered emery roller is utilized and after that the de husked pulses are part into two equivalent amounts of. This procedure is rehashed twice or thrice to finish the part procedure.
• Cleaning - The de husked and split pulses are then cleaned with a little amount of water or oil.
• The Alternate Wetting Method - This strategy is somewhat not quite the same as the dry technique. The beats are initially doused (wetted), then blended with red soil and reviewed after de husking. Additionally, cleaning isn't a piece of this technique.

Here is a simple picture of the whole procedure.

• Cleaning - expulsion of tidy and soil
• Splashing - the most imperative process as the grains are wetted
• Red earth blended - the wet blend is blended with red earth
• Moulding - an overnight moulding for dampness dissemination took after by exchange sun drying and treating for 2-4 days
• Sieving - detachment of red earth by sieving
• De husking and part - is finished by a plate Sheller (chakki)
• Evaluating - grains are reviewed by size
• De husked split heartbeats - these are Grade I pulses

Some present day milling machines utilized as a part of plants are roller machine, barrel sunken de huller, under runner plate (URD) Sheller and so on. There are some customary strategies also yet in them the misfortunes are considerably more contrasted with ordinary techniques.

A complete list of rice mill machinery consultant  Nextech Agri Solutions' services includes paddy milling, flour mill machine, parboiled rice solutions, sesame seed cleaning & sorting.

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Rice Milling And Processing

During the rice milling stage, rice grains move through a multifarious process. It's ushered through a number of sorting machines, wherein the grains are sufficiently processed.

Why is milling important?

Since rice is not fit for human consumption in its raw form, i.e. paddy, the need for processing arises. As such, milling is a crucial post-production step whose single-most important objective is to obtain it in its edible form, free from impurities.

Ideally, rice milling involves the removal of husk and bran to produce an edible white rice kernel that is not only sufficiently milled but is edible too.

As per the customer requirement, processed rice should have a certain minimum number of broken kernels. Let's take a closer look at rice kernel composition:

Generally, rice varieties are composed of about 11% bran layers, 20% rice hull/husk and 69% starchy endosperm, which is also referred to as total milled rice.

With varying durations, there are roughly 3 different processes involved in the milling, namely single step process, two-step process and multi-stage process.

Single Step Milling: Under this process the husk and bran layers are removed in a single go.

Two-step Milling: Bran and husk are removed separately in two different settings.

Multi-stage Milling: Under this process, paddy is ushered through a number of different processes. The objective of this process is to reduce mechanical stress and prevent heat buildup within the grain. This ensures that there is no grain breakage and uniformly polished grains are produced.

The different steps involved in the process of multi-stage rice commercial milling are: 
1. Paddy Pre-cleaning: This process essentially removes undesired foreign materials such as unfilled and uneven grains, impurities, sand, straw, clay, etc. Rice is passed through a series of aspiration systems and sieves.

2. Paddy De-stoning: Se-stoning is the process of separating rice grains from stones. This process works on the principle of gravity wherein the rice, being lighter stones, fluidizes into air gradient, leaving behind the heavier stones.

3. Paddy De-husking/dehulling: Based on centrifugal principle, dehusker machine removes the husk layer from paddy.

4. Paddy separation: As compared to a paddy, the surface of rice is smoother. This difference in texture is used to separate brown rice from paddy.

5. Rice Whitening: Rice whitening is the removal of bran and germs from brown rice through an efficient aspiration system

6. Rice Polishing: This step involves the removal of the remaining bran particles and then polishing the exterior of kernel by a humidified rice polisher.

7. Rice Length Grading: During this process, the broken rice is removed from the whole rice, and small and large head brokers are separated from the head rice.

8. Rice Blending: In this process, head rice is combined with predetermined amount of brokers, as per customers' requirements.

Article Source: EzineArticles

Rice Growth: An Integral Part of Rice Production

The foremost step for a thriving harvest is to create a crop calendar. It provides a solid framework for all the farming activities and allows for better planning of subsequent procedures and production cost. From land preparation to storage, a crop calendar provides a definite schedule for rice production.

Formulating a crop calendar, choosing the variety of seeds and preparing the land are all integral parts of pre-planting. However, in this post, we’d be discussing the growth stage. The growth stage involves a number of processes from planting rice to controlling weeds, pests and diseases, all of which are pivotal for a thriving harvest.

1. Planting Rice

As such, there are two methods of seed plantation; direct seeding and transplanting. Transplanting involves raising the seedlings in a seedbed prior to plantation in the field, while in direct seeding, seedlings are planted directly in the field.

While choosing the right plantation method, a number of factors are in play; ecosystem, available labour, soil type, planting season, etc.

2. Water Management

Perhaps you already know that rice is extremely sensitive to lack of water. Thus it becomes pivotal to implement effective management practices for maximum yield. As a general rule, rice is grown in a land which is continuously flooded for about 10 days prior to the harvest. Flooding the land is an integral way to prepare for sowing and controlling weeds, and ensures that there’s sufficient water.

In Asia, a typical amount of 1500 mm of water is required for irrigation. Just so you know, irrigated rice receives about 40% of the total irrigated water; that’s about 25% of this world’s freshwater resources.

For effective water management, one should:

- Construct field channels

- Land preparation for minimal water shortage

- Leveling the field

- Repairing cracks and holes in the fields

3. Soil Fertility

Another important factor for plant’s healthy growth and sustenance is soil fertility. Therefore it is essential that you apply nutrients to the crop for maximum soil fertility. Owing to the nutritional imbalance in the fields, a number of crop-related problems can arise.

For optimum soil fertility, establish an achievable yield target, regulate the fertilizer use and regularly supply optimum amounts of nutrition.

4. Controlling Weed

Utilize the share of sunlight, water and nutrition meant for rice, weeds effectively decrease yields, elevate production costs, and subsequently reduce product quality. Yield loss is worst during the initial 30 days of sowing. Weed control is therefore important to prevent yield and production losses, both during land preparation and early growth.

5. Controlling Pests and Diseases

As estimated, farmers lose about 35% of their yearly yield to crop diseases and pests. To limit these inhibitors, one should:

- Clean the field between seasons

- Use pest resistant, clean seed varieties

- Encourage natural pest inhibitors and don’t over apply fertilizers

- Don’t use fertilizers within the first month of sowing

Article Source : EzineArticles 

Rice Farming: Post Production, Harvesting And Drying

In many a developing country, 25 to 50% of the total grain value is lost between the harvest and consumption, mainly due to poor storage techniques, farm level wastage, and processing. This leads to lower incomes for farmers and higher prices for buyers. Further, there's a pressure on farmers to increase the production levels to attain higher rice yields and they end up using more land and fertilizers causing mass damage to the natural resources. This article aims at teaching you how to minimize grain losses and maintain rice quality for longer storage periods.

Step 1: Post production management

Post production management is all about how to handle the rice; from the time it's harvested to the time it's sold. Various processes such as cutting, hauling, cleaning and marketing the rice, etc. are involved. It's particularly important because it prevents both qualitative and quantitative loss and with a poor post production management, you're prone to losing as much as 50% of your total yield.

Step 2: Harvesting

This is simply a process of collecting the mature crop from the field; in our case, rice. Harvesting begins with cutting the crop and ends after it's been prepared to dry. It involves:

- Cutting

- Field drying

- Hauling

- Piling

- Threshing

- Cleaning

- Packing (to send it further for drying)

Harvesting at the correct time ensures that you get the maximum yield, diminishing quality degeneration. There are, however, certain physical losses one has to face during the harvesting operations. These are loosely based on the operations and machinery used during harvesting. These losses:

- Occur during cutting

- Occur during threshing and

- Occur during grain handlings

To minimize, it's important that you measure losses at each operation of harvesting and work upon it.

Step 3: Drying

The most critical operation once through the harvest, drying reduces the grain's moisture content to a safe level ideal for storing it for longer durations. Moisture laden grain is prone to discolouration, development of molds and pest infestation. It also reduces the seed's rate of germination, thus diminishing the overall grain quality. It happens when you:

- Wait too long before you begin drying

- Don't dry it long enough, whatever be your purpose

- Wrong techniques

Ideally, you should begin drying within 24 hours after the harvest. The grains should be dried down to different Moisture Content (MC) for different purposes.

- 14% or less MC for storing up to a few months

- 13% or less MC to store for 8 to 12 months

- 9% or less for storing more than a year

Drying techniques:

- Traditional systems: Sun drying, field drying and stacking

- Mechanical systems: Heated air drying, low temperature drying, solar drying and grain cooling

Nextech Grain Processing and Engineering is a rice mill plant consultant based in Delhi, India providing complete solutions for rice mill plant layouts, designing, detailed engineering and project coordination. Visit their website.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com