How do I check paddy moisture before taking it to the mandi?

Government procurement accepts paddy as Fair Average Quality only when moisture is at or below 17 percent, so test before loading to avoid value cuts or rejection. The cheapest reliable check is a handheld grain moisture meter, available at many agri shops and FPOs, or ask the mandi to test a sample early. As a rough field check, bite a grain: if it cracks crisply it is usually dry enough, if it dents or feels soft it needs more sun drying. Spread grain in a thin layer on a clean floor or tarpaulin for 1 to 2 days, turning it, and avoid drying on hot tar roads which crack the kernel. Confirm the exact moisture norm at your procurement centre as it is enforced strictly.