This paper studies factors associated with pesticide use in a rice-vegetable farming system in Bangladesh. Data came from a 1998/99 survey of 400 farm households. Regressions were used to examine factors that helped explain variation in patterns of pesticide expenditure. Controlling for farmer characteristics, results revealed positive and significant correlation between pesticide expenditures and farm size, non-agricultural income and degree of vegetable commercialization. Access to credit was found to have no explanatory power in the regressions. Farmers' estimates of pest infestation and damage were weakly correlated with pesticide expenditures.