Genomics and Applied Biology 2026, Vol.17, No.1, 16-25 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/gab 22 Sometimes it can be quick, but when it rains, they can only wait. When the rice piles up, problems such as moisture absorption and temperature rise occur, and the risks of mold and germination also increase. The mechanical drying method takes a different approach. Once the equipment is turned on, it can operate continuously day and night. With multiple machines connected, it's not uncommon to process hundreds of tons of rice in a day (Zhou et al., 2021). The cycle is naturally shortened. Temperature control and ventilation keep the uncertainty of the weather outside, but one must not be careless either. Equipment failures or temperature out-of-control can also affect the quality. Overall, the efficiency advantage lies with the mechanical drying method, but this is only true if it is operated properly. 6.3 Selection of appropriate drying methods for different-sized farmers The drying methods for farmers of different scales do not necessarily have to be the same (Peng et al., 2018). Small-scale farmers with limited funds often prefer open-air drying on the ground, but they need to be more meticulous in management, controlling the thickness of the drying layer, frequently turning it over, and withdrawing it in advance in case of rain. Larger-scale growers or cooperatives are more suitable for building or using professional drying equipment, for centralized processing and unified control. They can stabilize the quality by using measures such as pre-heating and slow cooling. The government and cooperatives can also establish public drying platforms and provide technical guidance, so that small-scale farmers no longer rely solely on natural drying but gradually adopt semi-mechanized methods to reduce losses (Figure 4) (Zhao et al., 2020). In the end, the choice depends on one's own conditions. The scale should be appropriate, the method should be suitable, and cost and quality can be balanced. Figure 4 Schematic illustration of public drying platforms and cooperative support systems that facilitate access to drying technology for small-scale farmers, reducing reliance on traditional sun-drying methods (Adopted from Zhao et al., 2020) 7 Case Study: Comparison of Natural Drying and Mechanical Drying under Typical Farmer Conditions To better illustrate the differences, this study created a hypothetical scenario of a southern rice-growing area and conducted simulations based on common practices (Liao et al., 2020). The local climate was humid and hot. Farmer A chose traditional drying, spreading the rice on the cement floor of the courtyard, about 0.05 meters thick,
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