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This study evaluated the expected impacts that water shortage will have on crop production and farm net income on a typical private farm in Namangan region, Uzbekistan. A Linear Programming (LP) model is used to find the combination of responses that will leave the farmer with the highest possible net income given the levels of water available. If improved irrigation practices are not a realistic alternative, farmers are left with no ways to avoid deficit irrigation when water is short, and cotton production and farm net income both fall almost in proportion to the water deficit. However, if improved irrigation practices are adopted, the model indicates that full production and income can be sustained with about 20% less water in the critical period. The improved methods also give more timely and uniform irrigation that, according to research results, will increase yields and income by more than enough to pay for the extra labor required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]