Moisture content BAMB

It is essential that the moisture content of food grains be known when they are accepted for storage. Quality deterioration during storage virtually depends on the level of moisture in products.
No food grains with moisture content higher than the safe acceptable level must be accepted for storage. If no moisture meter is available and there is reason to think that the produce has moisture content in excess of the safe limit, the produce should not be accepted until it has been tested with a moisture meter.

However, farmers have their own methods of assessing the amount of moisture in grains such as:

• Pressing them with thumb nails
• Biting them
• Smelling a handful of them.

It is nevertheless important to keep dried grain as it prevents germination and restricts the growth of bacteria, fungi and development of insects during storage.