Adaptation practices to climate change through crisis management: Evidence from farmers in Japan

Natural disasters driven by climate change are increasingly frequent, directly affecting the agricultural sector. Developing farm management strategies to adapt to climate change is critical for maintaining stable agricultural production. This study aims to explore how Japanese farmers adapt to climate change-related crises through crisis management. Data were collected from 232 Japanese farmers and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The Farmers' Adaptation to Climate Change model was developed based on Mitroff's crisis management theory. The findings indicate that Japanese farmers have a relatively moderate perception of climate change (70% of respondents). Regarding the relationship between cultivation adaptation and managerial options, the results indicate that farmers tend to implement individual adaptation measures rather than integrate them into a comprehensive managerial-level strategy in response to climate change-related damage. Adaptation practice is often undertaken in a haphazard and there are insufficient managerial options in place to ensure sustainable implementation. Enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of adaptation practices requires accumulating experience related to climate change-induced damage and institutionalizing it as systematic knowledge within the farm management system. To facilitate the adoption of climate-conscious practices, it is necessary to provide farmers with incentives that offset the lack of direct profitability inherent in mitigation activities.