The book focuses on policies which can be carried out in the short-to medium-term to reduce the length of time taken for the farm sector to recover its productive capacity after drought. The study starts by outlining the main effects of drought on crop producers in order to show the various processes through which impoverishment of farmers and losses of stock take place. It goes on to consider the interaction between droughts in the arable and livestock sectors before looking at indigenous strategies for rehabilitation pursued by producers themselves, following drought losses. It then examines the various policy options open to governments and development agencies wishing to speed recovery in the crop sector and discusses the relative costs and problems associated with each. The book ends by recommending that priority be given to examining the different options available in a given case and to funding a programme that can be put rapidly into effect.