Before the shelling process can take place, the fruits need to be dried since the moisture content will affect the shelling rate [24,47,51]. The decrease in moisture content (11.15% w.b. to 5.83% w.b.) could increase the shelling efficiency of the compression rollers by around 18% for one pass and 15% for a dual pass as shown in Fig. 5 [51]. It has been previously reported that fruits with low moisture content are brittle and easily damaged by mechanical force [32]. Further, the water adds to the weight and transporting cost so that drying is a necessary step. Direct sunlight is preferred if the seeds are not used for cultivation [47]. The fruits should be spread over a concrete floor or a plastic sheet. A solid concrete floor can make the work more efficient [23]. Further, the floor should be inclined to avoid stagnating in rain water. Sun drying is free but the time taken (7–10 days based on Mehla [21]) to reach the desired moisture content is highly dependent on the environmental conditions. Adding a fan can improve the drying rate where an electricity supply is available. Another vital step is to ensure the fruits are free from small stones or other solid impurities to prevent damage to the shelling equipment.