ABSTRACT The objective of this paper is to design and test a prototype, 0.82 ton/h capacity, fluidzed bed paddy dryer for high moisture paddy. Exhausted air is paritially recycled. Experimental results showed that the unit operated efficiently and yielded high product quality in terms of head yield and whiteness. In reducing the moisture content from 45% to 24% dry-basis using air temperature of 100–120°C, fraction of air recycled of 0.66, specific air flow rate of 0.05, kg/s-kg dry matter, superficial air velocity of 3.2 m/s, bed depth of 0.1 m, total primary energy consumption was 2.32 MJ/kg water evaporated of which 0.35 was primary energy from electricity (electrical energy multiplied by 2.6) and 1.79 was primary energy in terms of heat.