At one time, the processor's activity started when the grain was delivered to his plant. With the advent of HYV and quality control requirements of the grain many of the millers have connected to local paddy traders, who in turn have connected to farmers. As soon as the crop is reaped, threshed, cleaned or combined, the wet grain is sent to the drying plant of the mill. This example is the ideal approach when the drying happens at the plant under controlled conditions. Situations still exist where farmers are encouraged by NGOs to dry their crop in lieu of sending the rice to the mill, to allow them to wait for better prices.
Where farmer cooperatives are not found, traders are a source of credit to the farmers. First, the farmers pledge their crop to the paddy trader; then the traders arrange for the harvest, sometimes investing in the harvesting machines to insure that they receive their rice in good condition. Last the harvested crop is transported to the mills.
Also important in the post-production system are the manufacturers who provide the processing equipment hardware. Corporations prefer to import their equipment, but countries that have developed their rice industries choose to custom-design and manufacture their own equipment. Local manufacturers of agricultural machinery are sweatshops, capable to cut and weld. These factories can produce most anything that does not demand a high degree of foundry work, balancing of dynamic parts, stress and strain analysis, or metallurgical selection of steel members.
