EXCEPTIONAL circumstances drought assistance determined by "lines of maps" will be abolished, following a meeting of the nation's agriculture ministers in Canberra yesterday.

However, the ministers said the rules would not change for those producers currently receiving assistance in existing EC-declared areas.

Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said the meeting was called to discuss options for improving drought policy to achieve improved farm productivity and the wellbeing of farming families.

The meeting determined:

- there should no longer be Exceptional Circumstances declarations or "lines of maps". Instead, governments should focus on addressing the specific needs of farming families, farming businesses and farming communities.

- future welfare assistance for farming families should require a level of mutual responsibility.

- government farm business support should assist farming businesses plan and prepare for the future. Farm business support will be based on a willingness by those businesses to prepare for the impacts of drought and climate change.

- for access to the income support system, farming families should have a temporary period of exemption from the normal assets test for farm assets but otherwise receive the same access rights as the wider community.

- government policies and programs should support farming communities to prepare for drought and enhance their long-term sustainability and resilience.

- acknowledgement that drought is just one of a number of hardships that can adversely impact farmers.

- recognition of the important role of farmers as the nation's food producers.

Ministers said a high-level working group of officials would report to them on transitional arrangements and business assistance programs early next year.