In this second half of the year, clouds can easily build up and rain can fall in sudden outbursts. If the grains are spread over a wide pavement, these can be soaked or washed out even before the attendant farmer can act. Sundrying, though cheap, requires a tight watch.
In an ambush of rain, it is good if one could cover the grains with tarpaulin. This can be done easily if there are tarpaulin sheets that can be handled easily by one or two persons. The standard tarpaulin sheet is quite heavy that it normally requires four persons to carry it. If there are no available tarpaulin and helpers around, the instinct of a veteran farmer is to get the grain scraper and form big grain mounds or ridges about 10 inches high in rows just like corrugated (galvanized iron or GI) roof sheets. When the rain stops, only the surface layer gets wet. Hence, most grains are saved from rewetting. The wet grains from the top layer will be dried again.
Jerry James M. de la Torre, an agricultural engineer, shares his story:
"I was part of BPRE's training team for the two-stage drying system when I finally affirmed this long-time observation. We were at a cooperative in Lanao del Norte when a heavy downpour set the laborers scampering grain scrapers. They formed ridges out of the grain over the pavement. Then, they went back to the warehouse without bothering to cover the grains with tarpaulin sheet. The rain was heavy that at least 5 mm of runoff water as streaming over the pavement. It lasted for about 30 minutes. After the rain, I was surprised to find out that the rain was able to infiltrate the grain mass. Only the outer layer was wet. The mounds or ridges were about 8-10 inches high stretching throughout the 800 sq.m. pavement. The pavement wasn't even sloping."
It is observed that rainfall generally behaves in two ways. When it falls hard in sudden outburst, it doesn't usually last long. Hence, to save most of the grains, it is practical for farmers to just scrape the grains into mounds or ridges before they themselves get wet. Tarpaulin cover may be done away with.
When the rain falls continuously as if it would last forever, it doesn't usually fall outright. Clouds that bring a long-standing rain take time to build up. Therefore, farmers have plenty of time to gather their grains in sacks and into a safe place before the rain soaks the earth.
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