Farmers in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh have decided to bid farewell to tubewells and failing monsoons.

A dipping water table had meant that these tubewells were practically defunct. Farmers have now opted to go the natural way, digging ponds to harvest water.

''We were on the brink of destruction because the tubewells had become useless despite repeatedly deepening them. Now we are at peace after digging ponds,'' said Raghunath Tomar, farmer

Last year alone, farmers in this part of the state dug over 600 ponds. Digging a pond costs between Rs 2-10 lakh.

They took loans to meet the cost and it has paid them rich dividends as the crop yield has doubled. Farmers in the area now plan to dig around 1000 ponds without any financial aid from the government.

''The farmers have set a target of digging 1,000 ponds through public participation. According to government estimates, these works would have incurred a cost of crores,'' said Umakant Umrao, Collector, Dewas

The farmers have turned around their fortune and a good monsoon this year would only make things better.

-------- Source: NDTV

This news catch my attention.  I think the old saying "where there is a will, there is a way" is very much valid and applicable in this case.