Drought management as an essential approach for regional development and maintaining employment in south Khorasan province farmers in their villages in east of Iran. Rainfall is the ultimate source of water, affecting production of crops and other biomass by direct falling on the fields as well as supporting surface and ground water irrigation. However, possibilities of drought occurrence in Iran vary from once in 20 years. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like droughts, floods, heat/cold waves, cyclones, delayed or early onset, long dry spells, early withdrawal, and floods in drought frequented areas and droughts in flood afflicted areas have increased during the last two decades due to global warming. Since drought is defined by deviation from the normal rainfall, it can happen in all regions. Assessment and management of drought is complex due to its gradual appearance and long lasting impact or recoveries. Characteristics and impact of drought vary from region to region and year to year. Drought affects human, livestock, wildlife, bio-diversity and degrades the quality of natural resource base. Drought management strategies in the past were adopted generally during or after the onset of drought and lacked pro-active preventive interventions during normal or excessive rainfall years. A comprehensive assessment of drought environmental and socio-economic impacts provides critical information to rational decisions supporting drought mitigation policies and programs. The purpose of this study was to survey environmental and socio-economic impacts of drought in south Khorasan province farmers-East of Iran and prioritized them according to the viewpoint of farmers

Keyword: Drought management, environmental, Impact, socioeconomic, desert, south Khorasan province, Iran.