Esfenvalerate insecticide was tested to study its behaviour in a rice paddy-field. Samples of irrigation water, husked and unhusked rice, stubble and suspended matter collected on different days after application, were analysed by GLC. Esfenvalerate residues were detectable only in the suspended matter samples collected one hour after application. Esfenvalerate residues were not detectable in both the husked and unhusked rice and in the stubble.