Factors that Encourage Farmers to Adopt Farming Methods to Conserve the Japanese Crested Ibis

Abstract

Conservation-oriented farming techniques have attracted increasing attention in recent years. We focus on effective and efficient diffusion of methods to conserve the Japanese crested ibis living in certified rice farms in Sado city. We identify factors that affect farmers’ decisions regarding the adoption of conservation-oriented farming methods from the perspective of both the trial and confirmation stage; we also distinguish between interrupted, introduction, and non-introduction farmers. Results show that introduction and non-introduction farmers significantly differed with regards to living settlements, rice cropping areas, management philosophies, and their relationships with the Japanese crested ibis. Analysis of introduction farmers shows that pioneer farmers were mainly motivated by the aspects of contributing to the Japanese crested ibis and rice branding. Analysis of interrupted farmers suggests that generously paying farmers to attend workshops that give information about farming methods may prove effective. Finally, analysis of non-introduction farmers suggests that holding workshops that give information about how to apply to the certification system may be the most effective.