In reciprocation of His Majesty the King’s visits to various countries around the world, the monarchs and leaders of these countries began to visit Thailand, and Their Majesties feted them with displays of the best of Thailand’s artistic heritage, raising the profile of the Kingdom in the eyes of the world.
One of His Majesty the King’s most prominent projects initiated during this period was the Royal Project, which was created after His Majesty visited the hill tribe village of Doi Pui in 1969. Though only a short distance from the city of Chiang Mai, the mountainous area was devoid of forest cover which had been destroyed by Hmong villagers through their slash and burn cultivation of opium poppies. This form of livelihood was not only creating the social problems of heroin addiction and crime syndicates, but also bringing in more money to the drug kingpins rather than the growers themselves, who remained dirt poor.
In an attempt to halt this vicious cycle of crime, drugs and deforestation, His Majesty proposed the planting of peach trees to replace opium poppies. A variety had been found that thrived in northern Thailand, and villagers were soon convinced that this new crop would help improve their earnings. The Royal Project soon encompassed health care and education for the villagers, helping to raise the quality of life and bring in an improved and steady income for their families.
The project gradually expanded to include other temperate crops such as apples, strawberries and Arabica coffee, flowers as well as livestock. It was registered as a foundation in 1992, and has received several international awards including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding in 1988.