A total of 439 non-farm businesses throughout the entire Northern Inland region - which covers Moree, Narrabri, Inverell, Armidale, Glen Innes, Tenterfield, Walcha, Tamworth, Gunnedah, and all the towns and villages in between - responded to RDANI's survey, which aimed to assess the impacts and survival responses of non-farm businesses to the drought.

RDANI senior research economist David Thompson said a broad spectrum of industries were represented in the survey, but the strongest was from the retail sector, which comprised of close to 25 per cent of respondents.

"Our regional economies are tied to the land," he said.

"The drought has starved our farms and water supplies but the flow-on impacts experienced by non-farm businesses has been more direct and stark than appreciated to date."

In the 2018-19 financial year, 16 per cent of the Northern Inland region's non-farm businesses surveyed experienced a turnover reduction of 51 to 100 per cent.

More than a quarter reported a turnover reduction of 31 to 50 per cent, while a third reported an 11 to 30 per cent downturn.

"When you look at the participation our region-wide survey attracted and the financial hit businesses took in one year, you see that the drought is really threatening the sustainability of many regional businesses, beyond the farm gates, depressing local economies in Northern Inland NSW and across Australia," Mr Thompson said.

The survey also quantified job losses in drought impacted regional economies.

While 47 per cent of respondents managed to retain all staff in 2018-19, 36 per cent reduced staff by one or two and 15 per cent by three or more.

Only two per cent achieved job growth.

Surveyed businesses also reflected these figures in their expectations for 2019-20.

Mr Thompson said drought survival strategies among Northern Inland businesses have been varied but there have been common themes.

"We've seen over three-quarters of businesses reducing operating costs, yet that can also cut back their operational capacities," he said.

"More than one-quarter have diversified into new markets or products, while almost 20 per cent have had to rely on financial assistance from family or friends.

"Debt burdens have increased, making recovery from the drought impacts all the more challenging."

The survey, conducted in late 2019, also sought business owners' views on the forms of government assistance they'd like to see, with some practical insights provided

"Almost half want to see zero interest loans," Mr Thompson said.

"Tax averaging was sought by 39 per cent, council rates reductions by 51 per cent, payroll reductions by 43 per cent, income equalisation deposits by 32 per cent, fortnightly household support payments by 46 per cent, funding for training, courses and professional advice by 30 per cent and healthcare card eligibility by 35 per cent of surveyed businesses."

A summary report of the survey results is being sent to politicians this week, with RDANI calling for government support for affected businesses.

"The worst drought in living memory has been a natural disaster in slow-motion and continues to have a devastating effect on the farming sector," Mr Thompson said.

"However, the impacts on non-farm businesses in regional communities have been largely ignored and continued lack of action will be at the peril of smaller regional communities."

With a federal government economic stimulus package in response to coronavirus and the bushfires reportedly imminent, RDANI chair Russell Stewart warns that failing to include the impacts of the worst ever drought will "highlight the disconnect our city-based politicians have with regional Australia".

"We have produced the figures to show our political representatives that business drought impacts cannot remain underappreciated," he said.