Drying rice is an essential step in the process of collecting grain.
The purpose of drying rice is twofold:
First, to remove moisture from the rice, slowing its respiration rate and thereby reducing the loss of its nutrients.
Second, to prevent the rice from undergoing anaerobic respiration, which produces alcohol and leads to mold and infestation.
Due to the heavy rain over the past three days, the rice stored indoors showed varying degrees of moisture, making drying an imperative task.
Everyone waited until the accumulated water on the ground evaporated completely under the scorching sun before working together to move the rice, which was gathered inside the fabric, outdoors.
Considering heavy rain could come at any moment, the survivors decided not to pour the rice directly onto the ground as usual, but instead laid it on fabric spread on the ground.
