The impact of pests on crop yield is a significant worry for farmers, and finding an effective strategy to control insect population growth has become a pressing matter. This study explores the dynamic analysis of a model that incorporates natural predators to control crop pests. In the research, an analysis is conducted on the model’s positivity and boundedness, followed by an examination of the existence and stability of the equilibrium points. The study focused on analyzing bifurcations at a biologically feasible equilibrium point. The parameters considered for bifurcation are the predation rate by pests and the consumption rate of natural predators. In addition, an optimal control technique has been employed to enhance the growth of the plant population through the utilization of Pontryagin’s maximum principle. Moreover, the impact of the nine parameters on the model is examined through sensitivity analysis using the partial rank correlation coefficient method. Numerical simulations are conducted to validate the analytical findings, revealing the occurrence of bifurcation and the positive impact of control on plant population growth.