Pesticide use and alternative pest control strategies in Liberia: a comparative analysis of staple and market-oriented crop farmers

Introduction Given the rising concern for food safety and environmental sustainability of agricultural intensification in the Global South, we examined drivers of pesticide use and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Liberia. Methods We draw on a unique dataset combining 336 cocoa, 320 coffee, and 291 cassava farmers with evidence from 72 midstream value chain actors, including buyers, aggregators, and processors, to capture both farm-level decision-making and downstream market incentives. Using econometric choice models, we analyze how household, farm, and institutional factors shape pest management practices across market-oriented tree crops and staple food systems. Results Our results show the difference and similarity in the determinants of pesticide use and IPM adoption between farmers producing market-oriented crops (cocoa and coffee) and cassava farmers. Contrary to the conventional wisdom that organic production dominates in high-value cash crops like coffee and cocoa, our findings show that farmers in these sub-sectors rely more on pesticides than less market-orientated crops like cassava. Discussion Evidence from downstream actors suggests limited market demand and weak price incentives for low-pesticide use, which helps explain the continued reliance on chemical pesticides, particularly in tree crop systems. We therefore recommend that promoting sustainable pest management in Liberia requires not only strengthening advisory services and farmer training, but also transmission of food safety and sustainability requirements through value chain governance and pricing mechanisms.