Article

Retarding Paddy Aging Through Grain Chilling Technology: The year-end celebrations, though brief, concluded on a joyful note, leaving both body and mind rejuvenated. My book, Rice Technology, addresses multiple aspects of paddy handling to meet diverse industry requirements, with a singular objective—sustainable and positive growth for the rice milling fraternity. One of the key chapters, “Retarding of Paddy Aging,” focuses on preserving paddy quality through advanced post-harvest practices. My observations on paddy aging were shaped during visits to rice mills in Beijing and Bua Thai Rice Mill in Thailand, a province known for producing premium Thai Jasmine rice, where the miller is a leading exporter. Further, my professional association with Dr. Dirk Maier of Purdue University, USA, during my 2007 visit, helped me gain a deeper technical understanding of the fundamentals behind paddy aging and its control. The core principle behind retarding paddy aging lies in the use of Grain Chillers. In Thailand, chilling technology is extensively used for Thai Jasmine rice to ensure that the paddy does not age prematurely. Aging adversely affects the natural stickiness of Jasmine rice, thereby reducing its market value. Additionally, organic grain processors adopt chilling as a non-chemical disinfestation method, ensuring both quality preservation and food safety. When these observations were systematically analyzed, it became evident that effective paddy aging control requires chilling technology to maintain moisture levels at approximately 16%, which is critical for preserving grain quality. Moisture preservation plays a vital role in preventing oxidative and biochemical changes during storage. With India now manufacturing high-quality Grain Chillers, Indian rice millers—especially those using paddy steaming and dry heat aging processes—can significantly benefit from integrating this technology. Grain chilling offers a scientific, sustainable, and efficient approach to improving rice quality while enhancing storage stability and export competitiveness.