Cereals

Crop	Ideal Moisture	Notes
Paddy (Rice)	12%	For long-term, go to 11%
Wheat	12–13%	Below 12% ideal for seed
Maize (Corn)	12–13%	Must be dried well to avoid mould
Ragi / Millets	10–12%	Small grains absorb moisture fast
Sorghum (Jowar)	12%	11% if stored >6 months

Pulses

Crop	Ideal Moisture	Notes
Toor (Arhar)	10–11%	Prevents beetle infestation
Urad (Black gram)	10–11%	Goes mouldy easily above 12%
Moong (Green gram)	10–11%	Dries fast, also reabsorbs fast
Chana (Bengal gram)	10–12%	Higher moisture → tunnelling by beetles
Masoor (Red lentil)	10–11%	Store at lower moisture in humid zones

Oilseeds

Crop	Ideal Moisture	Notes
Groundnut	8%	Oil crop → spoils quickly
Sesame (Til)	6–8%	Must be very dry
Sunflower	8–9%	Oil makes it sensitive
Castor	7–8%	Highly sensitive to heat + moisture

Seeds (For Sowing)

Crop	Ideal Moisture
All cereals	8–10%
Pulses	8–9%
Oilseeds	6–8%

Why Moisture Matters

High Moisture Causes Mold. Odour, Discoloration.
Hermetic Bags Stop Insects, But Cannot Remove Moisture.
Correct Moisture Ensures Long-Term Preservation and Quality.