When and how to harvest paddy for best quality?

Harvest paddy when about 80 to 85 percent of the grains in the panicle have turned straw yellow and grain moisture is around 20 to 22 percent, usually 30 to 35 days after flowering. Drain the field 7 to 10 days before harvest so the soil is firm for the combine or for hand cutting. Harvesting too early gives more immature, chaffy grain and harvesting too late causes shattering and bird loss. After threshing, dry the grain to about 14 percent moisture before storage, and to 12 percent for seed. For combine harvested grain, dry promptly to avoid discolouration. Proper timing protects both yield and head rice recovery.