For farmers · 14 October 2026
Drying paddy right: why 14 percent pays
Wet paddy loses weight, breaks in the mill and can go mouldy in the bag. Dry it right and you earn more on every tonne. Our field officers explain how.
Why moisture matters
Freshly cut paddy holds around 22 percent water. At the mill we need 14 percent. Above that, paddy can heat up and spoil in storage, and the grains crack during milling.
That is why our price drops by about 1.2 percent for each point above 14. On six tonnes of long grain, drying from 16 to 14 percent is worth about ₦110,000.
Quick test
Bite a grain. If it is soft or bends, it is too wet. If it cracks cleanly, it is close to ready.
Never on the road
Drying on the tarred road is quick, but it adds stones, tar and dust, and the paddy is crushed by cars. Stones are the main reason loads get marked down at grading.
Use tarpaulins or raised mats. Members of the outgrower programme get two free tarpaulins for every hectare.
“Stones from the road are the main reason loads get marked down.”
Spread thin, turn often
Spread paddy no more than five centimetres deep and turn it every hour with a rake. Thick layers dry on top and stay wet underneath.
Cover it in the late afternoon before the dew falls, and when rain comes. Two to three sunny days is usually enough.
The rule of five
Five centimetres deep, turned every hour, for about five sunny hours a day.
Use the solar dryer
In the rainy season, bring wet paddy to the Abakaliki or Ahoada centre. Our solar dryers can take a tonne at a time, and drying is free for outgrowers.
Free for members
Book a drying slot through your field officer.
In short
- Target 14 percent moisture before you sell
- Never dry on the road; use tarpaulins or mats
- Spread thin and turn every hour
- Use the solar dryer in the rainy season
Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt
From our mill to your table
Find Truegrain in shops across Port Harcourt, or order in bulk.