Rainfed cultivation is under pressure in dryland agroecosystems in developing countries and is a major concern for subsistence farmers. Alternate crop management and efficient water use practices may help improve water use efficiencies (WUE) in the dryland farming systems. Here, we summarize dryland ecosystem challenges and strategies to overcome the adversities of high WUE, including rainwater harvesting, precision water management, cconservation agriculture, crop diversification, use of mulches, promotion of agroforestry, mixed crop-livestock systems, policy options and ecosystem approach.