Product Type: Grains – Rice
Stage: Production & Harvesting, Handling & Storage
Problem: Heat buildup in insufficiently dry rice leads to mold growth and insect infestation
Solution: Moisture content testers ensure producers known when rice is sufficiently dry and safely sealed in storage

1. Moisture content in rice is crucial to farmers as it determines whether the harvested rice is safe to seal in storage containers.
2. Traditional testing methods such as cracking rice between teeth can be very inconsistent. Available technology was made on a small, non-commercialized scale in the Philippines.
3. The International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines partnered with Philippines, Cambodia, and India electronics manufacturers to produce and commercialize a low-cost moisture testing device.
4. IRRI has made an initial order with plans to scale up order volume and production for increased distribution. More consistent moisture testing will reduce rice lost in storage as excessive moisture leads to losses as rice germinates in storage, cracks due to differences with ambient air humidity, and develops mold or insect infestation.