Climate change has led to a surge in the frequency and severity of natural disasters, adversely affecting crop yields and the livelihoods of farmers. Nevertheless, farmers have the capacity to mitigate these challenges through the adoption of diverse adaptation strategies. This study endeavours to gain a comprehensive understanding of the adaptive behaviour of farmers in the coastal regions of Odisha, India, employing an extended Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) model. To this end, we collected data from 240 farmers residing in the coastal districts of Puri and Khordah, Odisha, utilizing structured interview schedules. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the interplay between various constructs. Our findings revealed the pivotal roles of risk assessment, adaptation evaluation and maladaptation in shaping farmers' decisions regarding adaptation strategies. Furthermore, our research emphasizes the significance of a less explored construct - social discourse - as a key driver of effective adaptation promotion. Gaining insight into farmers' adaptive behaviour is instrumental in shaping effective policies by government and non-government organizations, aimed at assisting farmers in managing the impacts of climate change-induced natural disasters. Given that farmers' decisions regarding adaptation are substantially swayed by both risk assessment and adaptation evaluation, it is essential to tailor agricultural extension programmes to convey the potential adverse consequences of climate change and natural disasters in a readily comprehensible manner. Simultaneously, these programmes should underscore the immediate and long-term advantages of adopting adaptation strategies. Additionally, it is imperative to underscore that further research is warranted to validate and enhance the applicability and generalizability of the measurement model in diverse geographical contexts. This will enable a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of farmers' adaptation strategies in the face of climate change and natural disasters.