WELLINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Drought stricken farmers in the Lower North Island and South Island's West Coast in New Zealand will have access to Rural Assistance Payments (RAPs), Acting Social Development Minister Peeni Henare announced on Friday.

The drought was recently classified as a medium-scale adverse event by the government.

"The classification activates additional government support for farmers and growers in impacted areas," Henare said in a statement, adding that some of the farming families have been hit hard by this long and challenging dry period and are struggling to make ends meet.

Even with some rainfall, droughts can be slow to recover from and that the effects will be felt at a longer term, Henare said.

RAPs will be accessible from next Monday to help meet essential living expenses with a payment equal to Jobseeker Support for farmers affected by an adverse event, he said.

The drought classification has also triggered other government support, such as tax relief measures being extended to drought affected farmers.