15. lhe direct loEaea of crop output and livestock herds during 1982-1984 has prob.bly been of the order of $2,000 nillion. Related costs have included reducad export earntng8 (fron agricultural raw naterials and, in sone cases, food crop€ and llv€8tock, and increased food lnport requlrenents, eith 2 nillion r0etrlc tons ofgrrln i@orts tn 1983/84 (of ehlch I nllLlon tons eere connerctally bouqht at a c.1.f. (coat' lnaurance, frelght) co6t of about $200 nlllion. Direct drought rellef proJects, including food-for-uork prqlrarmres, hav€ placed substantial extra burdens on rlready fraglle national budgets in several States. Uany farners and rarchers have sustalned strch heavy Io€ses of r.rorking capital (as se1l as seed. inplenente and reacrves to buy productlon inputs) and of livestock herds tbat very substantlal asgistance uill be needed to help then co rebuild productlon. 17. SADCCTS reaponse to the drought haE had several aspects. First. SADCC sought to publiclze the efiergency need to assist ln nobllizlng external aid avert atarvat lon and linit nalnutritlon. Second r lt hae sought to €xctrange expcrlence on co[batlng drought and to deve]op early earnlng systens nitbin food aecurity sector. Thlrd, through the regional and national drougbt presentatlonE to the LuEaka SADCC lt has proroted co-operation ln support of projecta to sehabllltate drought victtns and to reduce the inpact of futurerainfall fluctuatlons by such neana as lrrigation and lncreased storage capacity. Fourth, ni.thln the agrlcultural research aector it has qlven priorlty to the develo@ent of drought-reslstant crops, including nillet, solghun and grain legunes. /...of haE to ItBA/40/s79 EngIi sh Page 6 3. Econonlc Aggression and DestabiLization 18- Econonlc aggresslon agalnst sADcc anat sADcc nenber states has contlnued. SADCC flnds that the record of lgBO-1995 relnforceg the need to continue glvlngprioElty to the goal of reduclng econonlc dependence on south Afrlc. set out i; theLusaka Declarat ion.
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the impact of drought on agricultural production, trade, and economies in the SADC region. It highlights the economic costs of drought, including losses of working capital, livestock, and food security, as well as the need for international aid and assistance. The text also touches on the region's response to the drought, including the development of drought-resistant crops and irrigation systems.

**Category**
Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Humanitarian aid and relief