Top Rice News: Pesticide Residue, El Niño Fears & Husk Ash

Top rice news today covers why US FDA Flags Hyderabad Rice Exporter named Canvas ventures and how El Niño fears, Govt. procurement push fine rice prices up in Telangana. Lastly, how Rice Husk ash could make roads more heat-resistant. These are the latest rice news stories from the global rice market

US FDA Flags Hyderabad Rice Exporter. But Why?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed products from Hyderabad-based rice exporter Canvas Ventures on its Red List due to the concerns related to pesticide residues. The company was added to the India section of FDA Import Alert 99-08 on September 15, 2026. The alert covers two products that are packaged jasmine rice and packaged white rice. Both products are identified as white rice, with chlorpyrifos listed as the pesticide of concern.

Under the FDA’s import alert system, the specified products can be detained at US ports without physical examination when offered for entry. The FDA says such alerts apply to specific firms and products that appear to have pesticide-related violations. But, the action is limited to the identified rice products and does not indicate that all products handled by Canvas Ventures are affected. Public records do not disclose the brand, batch, quantity, importer, port of entry, sampling date or the amount of chlorpyrifos detected.

El Niño Fears, Govt. Procurement Push Fine Rice Prices Up in Telangana

Fine rice prices in Telangana have increased by 20–30% in recent months. The popular rice varieties are now retailing at nearly ₹60–70 per kg. Moreover, Wholesale prices have also risen, with RNR rice climbing from about ₹2,400 to ₹3,300 per quintal, while BPT has reached around ₹3,000.

The reason behind the price rise are none other than El Niño concerns, lower paddy cultivation and increased government procurement under Telangana’s fine-rice Public Distribution System scheme. The state offers farmers a ₹500 bonus which encourages more growers to sell paddy to the government rather than private traders. Notably, the state produced 148.03 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the 2025–26 Kharif season, with the government procuring 70.82 LMT. At the same time, paddy cultivation area has decreased by 15.84% this Kharif. According to Industry representatives, fears of lower production next season have also encouraged consumers to stock rice which add further pressure on prices.

Rice Husk Ash Could Make Roads More Heat-Resistant. Here’s How?

Rice husk ash is a waste product generated by rice mills. It could help in improving the performance of asphalt roads in high-temperature conditions. Researchers tested asphalt containing 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% rice husk ash and found that the material increased stiffness, viscosity and resistance to permanent deformation. The study found that the critical upper temperature of asphalt increased from 64°C to as high as 76°C with higher ash concentrations. The researchers stated that the porous surface and silica content of rice husk ash can enhance its interaction with asphalt, making roads more resistant to heat-related rutting. But, higher ash levels also created challenges, including reduced workability, greater brittleness and increased risks of cracking at lower temperatures. The findings suggest rice husk ash could offer a way to convert agricultural waste into a useful road-construction material, but its quantity must be carefully controlled.