How to deal with drought in cotton farming in Vidarbha?

In drought prone Vidarbha the strategy is to save every drop and reduce risk, not chase high yields. Go for shorter duration and drought tolerant cotton and intercrop with pulses like tur and moong so one crop cushions the other. Practice in situ moisture conservation with deep ploughing in summer, opening furrows between rows, mulching with crop residue and dora or ridge and furrow to hold rain where it falls. A farm pond for protective irrigation at flowering and boll stage saves the crop in dry spells. Follow the twice weekly agromet advisory to time sowing only after enough rain. Soil testing and balanced fertiliser help roots go deeper. Enrol in the weather based crop insurance so a failed monsoon is partly covered.