Natural enemies, farmer cognition and pesticide use: micro evidence from China’s pear producing regions

Purpose This paper examines how natural enemies, as ecological control agents, influence farmers’ pesticide use decisions and how this effect is conditioned by farmers’ cognitive understanding of pest–enemy dynamics and their risk attitudes. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on original data from 327 pear farmers in three of China’s major producing provinces (Hebei, Shandong and Hubei), this study integrates three data sources: ecological monitoring of orchard level predator populations, incentivized experiments on farmer risk preferences and structured household surveys. Interaction models are estimated to assess how farmers’ cognition moderates the relationship between natural enemy density and pesticide use, measured in terms of both expenditure and spraying frequency. Findings Results show that farmers with greater ecological awareness, specifically, better recognition of pests, natural enemies, and their interrelations apply pesticides less frequently and at lower cost. This cost reducing effect of cognition is significantly amplified under higher natural enemy densities, suggesting a synergistic relationship between ecological assets and behavioral responses. In contrast, farmers with higher risk aversion tend to spray more often, though not necessarily at greater expense, indicating a quantity-over-quality behavioral pattern in risk management. Originality/value This study makes several novel contributions. First, it moves beyond perception based proxies by incorporating field-measured predator densities into behavioral modeling. Second, it identifies a micro-level mechanism whereby ecological conditions and farmer cognition jointly shape input behavior. Third, it highlights how natural enemies are underutilized in current farmer decision-making due to low awareness, providing concrete evidence for targeting ecological extension services. The findings have practical relevance for advancing sustainable pest control in perennial systems such as orchards and for promoting nature-based solutions in developing country contexts.