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The Royal Project.

Contents

Project Area
When Their Majesties first spent their northern holidays at Bhuping Palace on the hills of Chaing Mai, they took time to visit Hilltribe villages close by. They noticed that while hike people grew opium poppy, destroying forest and watershed in doing so, they were poor.
About 25 years ago, His Majesty learned from a Meao man near Bhuping Palace that, apart from poppy, they had another cash crop, a local variety of peach which is small in size and can only be used for picking. Yet this peach produced for them nearly as much income as opium. His Majesty they thought that by grafting improved variety onto local rootstock, the fruit should become bigger and produce higher income than the illegal poppy. To find out if his idea were correct, he immediately founded the 'Royal Project' to work on it.
"The purpose of any project", said the King, "should be to help hilltribes improve their living standard and to enable them to grow useful crops which will earn them good income. This is humanism. Another purpose, as anybody will agree should be undertaken, as if concerns a very serious problem of narcotic. If we can help hilltribes produce useful crops for more money, they will abandon poppy cultivation. This will enhance our policy of stopping the trading and smoking of opium. And yet there is another important consideration. It is well known that hill farmers employ Slash and burn cultivation, and the forest is destroyed, causing severe damages to our country. If we help them farm in a proper manner, the whole of our country will benefit, because, by giving hilltribes good lives, they will support our policy of soil and forest conservation with long lasting benefit."
Soon after the establishment of the Project, substantial assistance was received from US Department of Agriculture which awarded us valuable contracts for finding suitable crops for replacing opium. Taiwan and other friendly countries then began to help with planting material etc. With volunteers from universities and other establishment, a great deal has been achieved in 25 years.
In March 1991, by Royal Command, the Royal Project was established as a Foundation, His Majesty donating 500,000 baht and becoming its Honorary President. A major purpose is to make it a permanent organization.

Objectives
  1. To render suitable assistance to hilltribes
  2. To reduce the destruction of natural resources - forest and watersheds - thus benefiting the whole country
  3. To stop opium cultivation
  4. To make proper use of land. Thai is, let forest be where it should, and farming is done on land suitable for such purpose.
  5. To produce crops to the benefit of Thailand economy
Work Division
At present, Royal Project Foundation works in the Provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun and Mae Hong Son . It has 4 research stations, and 34 development centers which cover 294 villages, with total population of 73,425.

Development Centres
Development work consists of Development Centers, Plant Protection Unit, Educational, Social, and Health Development and Crop Production Development.

1. Royal Project Development Centers
Aiming to make the farmers' lives better as well as stopping opium cultivation, slash-and burn method of cultivation and forest destruction, the Centers pass on research results to benefit farmers, so that they can earn good living without damaging natural resources. Soil conservation and proper use of water are also encouraged. Royal Project Foundation has 34 development centers.

Development CenterLocationPopulation
DistrictProvinceVillage No. ofFamilies No. ofPopulationTribe
1. AngkhangFangChiang Mai66012,697Lahu Na, Lisu, Yunanese, Palong
2. InthanonChomthongChiang Mai165102,793Karen, Hmong, Native Thai
3. Pang DaSamerngChiang Mai31551,100Native Thai, Hmong
4. Mae LordMae TaengChiang Mai265281Native Thai, Karen
5. Khun WangMae Wang sub-DistricChiang Mai71891,120Hmong, Karen
6. Kae NoiChiang DaoChiang Mai74152,664Lahu Yi, Lahu Na, Akha, Yunanese
7. Huay LerkChiang DaoChiang Mai11631,400Native Thai, Hmong, Karen
8. Nhong KhiewChiang DaoChiang Mai24962,472Lahu Na, Akha, Ka Chin, Lawa
9. Mae SaMae RimChiang Mai21401,284Hmong
10. Nhong HoiMae RimChiang Mai54422,000Hmong, Lisu
11. Pa-MiengDoi SaketChiang Mai397302,986Native Thai, Karen
12. Teen-TokSan Kam PaengChiang Mai173491,226Native Thai
13. Mae Tha NhierSan Kam PaengChiang Mai104612,211Native Thai, Karen
14. Mon-NgoMae TaengChiang Mai174431,824Native Thai, Karen
15. Mae Sa PokSan PatongChiang Mai23251,741Native Thai, Karen
16. Tung LuangSan PatongChiang Mai114332,647Karen
17. Mae HairSan PatongChiang Mai112511,708Karen, Hmong
18. Pang UngMae ChaemChiang Mai132932,847Karen, Hmong
19. Wat ChanMae ChaemChiang Mai176713,819Karen, Hmong
20. Khun PhaeChom ThongChiang Mai113651,913Karen, Hmong
21. Mhok CharmMae AiChiang Mai89884,702Karen, Yao, Akha, Thai Yai
22. Tung RerngHang DongChiang Mai41697,645Native Thai, Hmong
23. Tung RaoHang DongChiang Mai42741,451Native Thai, Hmong, Thai Yai
24. Huay SieoHang DongChiang Mai56072,250Native Thai, Hmong
25. Phak PhaiHang DongChiang Mai33211,766Native Thai
26. So-NgoChiang SaenChiang Rai5139630Native Thai, Akha
27. Huay PongVieng PapaoChiang Rai5139630Native Thai, Akha
28. Huay Nam RinVieng PapaoChiang Rai490370Native Thai, Hmong, Lahu Na
29. Mae Poon LuangVieng PapaoChiang Rai42491,253Lisu, Lahu Na, Akha, Yunanese, Lahu Yi
30. Huay Nam KhunMae SuayChiang Rai167874,221Akha, Karen, Lahu Na, Lahu Yi
31. Pra Bath Huay TomLiLumphun121,9798,842Karen, Lua
32. Mae La NoiMae La NoiMae Hong Son64442,679Karen, Lua
33. Mae SariengMae SariengMae Hong Son113972,462Karen, Lua
34. Pang KaPongPhayao1125717Hmong
Total20529414,09873,4254

The following is the main duty of the above Development Center:
  		• Extension to local farmers of cold weather vegetables, flowers, fruits, field crops, as well as animal husbandry and fisheries.
  		• Improve infrastructure and quality of life.
  		• Support work in selection, research, and demonstration of plants and animals.
  		• Conservation and regeneration of natural resources. In this respect, it is important separate clearly farm land from areas that should be covered by forest. In re-aforestation, commercial value of wood is considered. In determining farm land, steepness of land, topsoil coverage, and the availability of irrigated water is considered. Then comes soil conservation measures by terracing, contour culvert construction, or contour planting of vetiver grass.

    2. Plant Protection Unit

    It is important policy of the Foundation not to use chemicals unless absolutely necessary, therefore operates a Plant Protection Unit, complete with laboratory, for the complete control of the use of such chemicals. In carrying its duty, the Unit send its technicians to visit Development Centers for the early detection of pests and diseases. When Centers have problems, samples of plants affected will be sent to the Unit for prescriptions.

    3. Agricultural Extension and Development Division

    This Division transfers research results and technology to the Foundation field people and gives them advice. Also it discussions with Marketing Division, and make production plan accordingly.

    4. Education, Social, and Public Health Development

    In carrying out its work, this unit receives assistance from Government as well as organizations in its following effort:
  		• Education and Society Development, setting up schools, children development centers, mobile and school libraries to instill a love of reading. It provides school lunch, and encourages leadership in children. Housewives and youth are introduced to handicraft, like spinning and weaving, particularly new raw material like linen.
  		• Public Health Work is carried out by volunteers of doctors, dentists, and nurses from Chiang Mai University. Besides giving primary treatment, the team also regularly improves standard of public health.

    Following up His Majesty's policy of opium elimination, Royal Project utilizes its ability to bring together various Government units to work as a team, in its effort to reduce heroin addiction. This is especially important, as may of the Project's villages sit astride the drug's smuggling routes from Myanmar, and traffickers use any tricks to make hill people addicts to ease their work.

    Also, as required by the King to help them help themselves, the Project deeply involved hilltribes in its anti-heroin effort. Villagers, having intimate knowledge of their own people, act as narcotic police. With their particular way of thought and using their dialect, they warn their tribespeople of damaging results of adduction. Even drug withdrawal treatment is carried out in the village, using the patients' relatives as nurses. Also, villagers act as guards around treatment area to stop drugs coming in. This unique plan is of action is proving successful and is now receiving increase support from Government.

    Marketing
    Foundation's activities in Marketing involve post-harvest treatment, transportation, grading and packing, food processing, as well as market research.

    Due interest is taken in post-harvest matters, as high quality produce is desired. The Project has pre-cooling units on the hill, capable of reducing vegetable temperature to 3 degree Celsius in 3 hours. Refrigerates trucks are also used. It has grading and packing houses in Change Mia as well as Bangkok. The Foundation has food processing plants in Fang, Change Mia, Am Can in Change Rae, and at Chiang Mai University.

    For its produce, Royal Project has "Doi Kham" as registered brand name.

    For more information please contact:

    Ms. Darunee Edwards
    Executive Vice President, Administration
    Doi Kham Food Products Co., Ltd.
    (Royal Project Food Processing)
    An Affiliated Company of Crown Property Bureau
    173 Rajsima Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
    Tel : (6 62) 628-9100 Fax : (6 62) 628-9109

    Internationally, Royal Project Foundation is becoming known for its pioneering and successful effort of eliminating opium by its peaceful means. This was recognized in 1988 by Magsaysay Award for International Understanding.

    Products
    The Royal Project buys all produce from hill farmers, and then selects, packages and markets them locally and export under the trademark of 'Doi Kham.' There are more than 300 products which consist of following catagories :

  • Winter Vegetables
    1. Eggplant
    2. Fennel
    3. Endive
  • Pot Plants
    1. Ivy
    2. Azalea
    3. African Violet
  • Herbs
    1. Angelica
    2. Mint
    3. Chamomile
  • Dry Flowers
    1. Dog Wail
    2. Angel Vase
    3. Weeping Bamboo
  • Winter Flowers
    1. Gladiolus
    2. Gerbera
    3. Pink Aster
  • Handricrafts
    1. Hat
    2. Krashoul
    3. Flower Umbrella ChiangMai
  • Winter Fruits
    1. Papaya
    2. Japanese Apricot
    3. Plum
  • Canned Products
    1. Roset Paste
    2. Strawberry Jam
    3. Dried Pear
  • Farming Products
    1. Arabica Coffee
    2. Red Kidney Bean
    3. Wheat

    • Distribution Outlets
    • Doi Kham Store at Chiang Mai Airport, Chiang Mai
    • Doi Kham Store at Chiang Inn Plazza Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai
    • The Royal Project Store at Marketing and Argriculture Center, Bangkok
    • The Royal Project Store at Kasetsarth University, Bangkok
    • The Royal Project Store at The Old Siam Plazza, Bangkok
    • Leading Supermarket and Store in Bangkok and Provinces

    This web come from; http://www.cyber-Image.com/royalproject/index.htm

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