This study focuses on the role of land-use on impacts of drought, and on societal andrngovernmental response strategies against drought in Kutkwat-Sekela catchment, ShebelrnBerenta wereda, Misrak Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State. A field study was conductedrnto assess the impact of land-use on the intensity of drought, and the impact of drought on thernsocio-economic activity and on the environment, and to assess societal coping mechanismsrnand governmental response strategies. The study was conducted using socio-economicrnsurveys, by investigating archival material on production, population related issues and localrnlevel impacts and responses, and through fieldwork on land use and land treatment practices,rnand soil conservation status adopted in the study area. Socio-economic survey on history ofrndrought, its extent and impacts and response strategies was conducted using a structuredrnquestionnaire and focused group discussions. Environmental degradation of the study arearnwas assessed using soil organic matter content, CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity), bulkrndensity and changes in land cover. The change in land cover was assessed using aerialrnphotographs (1957) and ground field survey of the current land uses (2005) as inputs tornproduce two GIS (Geographic Information System) based land cover maps of the study arearnfor 1957 and 2005. The current land use and land treatment practices adopted in the study arearnwere evaluated vis-Ã -vis the recommended Treatment Oriented Capability Classification (TO)rnscheme. The quality of stone made terraces was also evaluated using the Ministry ofrnAgriculture/World Food Program (MOA/WFP) standard.rnA significant change in land cover was recorded in the study area between the years 1957 andrn2005. The shift in land use was found to be towards more cultivated land and settlement. Thernarea coverage of natural vegetation had decreased by about 48 % because of a rapid increasernin population growth and associated demand for land and trees. The chemical and physicalrnproperties of the soils of the cultivated and grazing lands, which covered up to 66% of thernstudy area, were found to be severely degraded. In Yekachera and Abaselama, two areasrninvestigated in detail, current land use and land treatment practices were below thernrecommended level by about 32 % and 13 %, respectively. The impact of drought was foundrnto be more severe in Yekachera than in Abaselama. The study indicated that the impacts ofrndrought were related to land use and land treatment.rnixrnDrought had adverse impacts on the socio-economic activities mainly on crop production andrnon the environment. To cope with the impacts of drought, farmers opted to lower foodrnconsumption, sale of livestock and reduced socialization. Governmental response strategiesrnincluded relief aid and resettlement, food-for-work programmes, introducing drought resistantrncrops, soil conservation schemes and on-farm water harvesting. The investigation indicatedrnthat current drought coping mechanisms did not sufficiently address the impact of drought inrnthe area. It is recommended that proper land use and land treatment should be implemented tornreduce the impact of drought.