A rotary dryer is used to dry 1200 kg h-1 of paddy containing 30% moisture (wet basis) to give a product containing 15% moisture (wet basis). Alternately, a portion of the dry product may be recycled and mixed with the fresh feed such that the mixed feed enters the dryer with moisture content of 20% (wet basis). The moisture evaporation rate without recycle and the paddy recycle rate in kg h-1 respectively in the dryer are