Grain Moisture Meter

The majority of farmers in Nepal are subsistence farmers, and thus the majority, or all of their produce for their family’s own usage. The degree to which this happens depends on the area of the country the farmer lives in. In the Terai region, 70-80% of a farmer’s grain harvest is stored for the family, and in the Hill and Mountain region this number is almost 100% (Ganesh, 1992). In order to have this food viable throughout the year, it must be stored effectively. In Nepal, traditional methods are often used to store grains, although amongst larger producers metal bins are becoming more common (Ganesh, 1992). There are numerous methods of storing grains traditionally; some of these for paddy (rice) and wheat are the Bharkai, Dhukiti, Kothi or the mud Dehari (Ganesh, 1992). Grains are not harvested at a moisture content that allows them to be safely stored and in order to do this, grains must be dried.

The most common method of grain drying in Nepal sun drying (Ganesh, 1992). This is often done by placing harvested grains on a mat, or piece of ground especially prepared for the drying process (Ganesh, 1992). Figure 8 shows a group of women drying grains in a market square. Another important way of keeping moisture contents low is harvesting grains at an appropriate time where they are mature, and have a low existing moisture content (Grolleaud, 2002). This results in less drying needed and reduces the likelihood of spoilage.