Royal rice terraces of Thailand
Main objectives of Royal Projects in areas of the Upper North are helping people in the areas having enough rice for consumption, practicing good agriculture, reducing damage of natural resources, particularly forest zones and promoting humans living in the areas happily.
Rice cultivation under condition of paddy-rice terrace fields on high mountains which is proved a suitable planting method for increasing rice yield , Phrae Rice Research Center has developed rice cultivation system from upland-rice terrace to paddy-rice terrace for Baan Kok-Baan Jun site in areas of 92 rais with yields of 430-699 kgs./rai. Mae Hong Son Rice Research Center conducted at Doi Ompai in areas of 3 rais having yields of 570 kgs./rai. Chiang Rai Rice Research Center conducted at Baan Romyen by transplanting and dibbling method under paddy-rice terrace fields in areas of 45 rais, got yields of 88-322 kgs./rai Chiang Mai Rice Research Center has extended paddy-rice cultivation system to farmers under 9 Royal Projects in areas of 4,300 rais having yields of 320-600 kgs./rai. Consequently, paddy-rice terrace cultivation has been intensively promoted to 3 Royal Projects in 3 districts of Chiang Mai province for 35 rais.
Changed the way of the upland rice field into the rice terraces is the choice of how to grow upland rice, strengthen and support the community food security (rice). It can reduce the shortage of rice that is not enough for consumption. It can reduce aggression and sustainable forest conservation area.The research carried on experimental by testing appropriated rice varieties for rice field terraces and coupled with transfer of technology development, cultivation and management accurate and appropriate for the area to farmers. Currently, a group of farmers "rice terraces group" is representatives participating in the technology cultivated rice terraces and the farmers satisfied with the increasing in rice production.