Drought is a major constraint affecting rice production especially in rainfed areas of Asia. Despite its importance in rice growing areas, the magnitude of economic losses arising from drought, its impact on farm households and farmers' drought coping mechanisms are poorly understood. This paper...

The economic costs of drought and rice farmers' coping mechanisms are analyzed using time series and farm survey data from China, India and Thailand. The economic cost was estimated to be 2-6% of the value of output. Farmers' coping mechanisms were found to be inadequate in preventing...