Drought, which is expected to occur more frequently under the climate change regime, is a major challenge in rice cultivation. This paper aims to unpack the decision-making processes of rice farmers when faced with drought. The study was conducted in two drought-prone rice-farming communities in the Philippines, with 87 rice farmers as the main participants. A range of qualitative methods including in-depth interviews, focus groups, and windshield surveys were used to collect data. The study combined insights from Protection Motivation Theory and the Social Identity Approach in interpreting the findings. Past experiences of farmers of natural disasters influence their perception that drought is real and that they should take action. Farmers employ adaptive mechanisms that they have easy access to. If there are issues securing an adaptive mechanism, decision-making gravitates around farmers’ commitment to their social identity as rice farmers. Those who are strongly committed to their rice farmer identity will find ways to continue cultivating rice no matter what. Those who are not strongly committed to their identity as rice farmers may leave rice farming if they find it to be infeasible because of drought.

干旱预计将在气候变化制度下更加频繁地发生，是水稻种植中的主要挑战。本文旨在解开稻农面对干旱的决策过程。这项研究是在菲律宾的两个干旱多发水稻种植社区中进行的，主要参与者是87名水稻种植者。使用了一系列定性方法，包括深度访谈，焦点小组和挡风玻璃调查，以收集数据。该研究结合了保护动机理论和社会认同方法的见解在解释结果时。农民遭受自然灾害的过去经验影响了他们对干旱是真实的并且应该采取行动的看法。农民采用了容易获得的适应性机制。如果存在确保适应性机制存在的问题，则决策者会倾向于围绕农民对其作为稻农的社会身份的承诺。那些坚决维护稻农身份的人将找到无论如何都可以继续种植稻米的方法。那些不坚决以稻农身份的人，如果发现由于干旱导致不可行，可以离开稻农。