Paddy Crop

Harvesting Management

  • It's time to harvest the crop.

    You are advised to:
    • Stop irrigation/drain water two weeks before harvesting.
    • Protect the crop from damage by birds, rats and other animals.
    • Harvest the crop when the grains are ripe in the vines and the leaves and stalks turn yellow.
    • Do not wait for the complete drying of the crop, otherwise the grain will be damaged.
    • Harvesting is done by the workers with the help of a sickle or combine machine.
    • Remove the grain by threshing soon after harvesting and do not leave the harvested crop in the field, otherwise due to dew at night and sunlight during the day, the grain gets cracked and the grain breaks more while milling.
    • If the harvested crop is to be kept overnight, cover it with a polythene sheet/tarpaulin.
    • Usually threshing is done by slamming the harvested crop in hard places but it is advisable to use paddy thresher.
    • Harvest at 80-85% grain maturity – sickle cutting is more suitable for basmati rice.
    • Thresh within 24 hours of harvesting – use a mechanical thresher.
    • Dry on a clean tarpaulin under sunlight; keep a 5-7cm layer thickness and turn every 2 hours.