Royal Projects (Under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King)
For The Betterment of the People: His Majesty The King’s
Development Projects
Under his accession to the throne of Thailand. His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej declared that he would rule with righteousness “for the
benefit of the Thai people”. In the 65 years since that auspicious declaration.
His Majesty has worked tirelessly to make those benefits real in ways that truly
unique among monarchs.
With exceptional insight, intelligence, and compassion, His Majesty has
taken his natural gifts for the sciences and applied them directly to serve the
people of the kingdom of Thailand. His numerous development projects have
brought tangible results and lasting innovations not just to his subjects but to
the world.
The Royal Projects to be announced here are as follows:
Royal Rain Project
His Majesty the King is often compared to the life-giving rains because
his pioneering work in rain-making. Since 1971, the techniques by His Majesty
have been used to bring brought relief to farmers and to increase water
reservoirs, earning international patents and interest from many foreign
countries.
Moisture Retention Dam Project
To maximize the use of Thailand’s annual
monsoon rains, His Majesty has introduced and
promoted a system of small “check-dams,” which
regul ate the flow of irrigation water. The creation
of multiple small reservoirs directly benefits
farmers at a local level, and also replenishes
groundwater supplies for future use.
Royal Hilltribe Projects
In 1969, His Majesty the King introduced a
comprehensive programme to assist the northern
hilltribe people, who were engaging in unsustainable
farming practices. By training the hilltribe communities in
the production of various handicrafts, these programmes
have raised their income and their prospects, as
well as benefiting the environment.
Pasak Dam Project
To help the farmers of Thailand’s central plains
to exploit fully the waters of the Pask River, His
Majesty initiated a development project that created
a new reservoir for water conservation and controlled
irrigation. The dam has also helped with flood
prevention on the outskirts of Bangkok.
New Theory on Managing Agricultural Land
By combining the concept of water reservoirs
with local control, His Majesty has formed a theory that
promotes individual household reservoirs over large
communal ones. Thus, by maximizing material
versatility while minimizing costs, overall agricultural
production is booted with minimal public expense.
Use of Vetiver to Prevent Soil Erosion
To help stop the effects of soil erosion, His
Majesty has initiated a programme of selective planting
and placement of certain varietals of vetiver grass,
known for its ability to reduce siltation and stabilize
soil. The systematic application of the programme has
proven effective in maximizing productivity and
conserving precious water.
The Chai Phatthana Aerator Project
Concerned with the quality of water in the Kingdom.
His Majesty has initiated and developed a device that
keeps oxygenated and healthy. Its simple design and
low cost make it easy to build and maintain, thus facilitating
wide application nationwide. A variety of models are
being tested for best efficacy.
The Rama VIII Bridge
Always conscious of the daily problems facing
Thais, His Majesty suggested the construction of a
new bridge across the Chao Phraya River to alleviate
congestion in Phra Nakhon and Dusit districts.
Named after his brother, His Majesty King Ananda
Mahidol, Rama VIII, the graceful new bridge has
become a city icon.
The Monkey Cheeks Project
Inspired by the way monkeys store as much
food as possible before eating, His Majesty modeled a
new technique for water retention using reservoirs
along natural waterways and canals. Constructed
along the coast, these reservoirs collect fresh water
that would otherwise flow out to sea.
Pakphanang Project
To stem the deterioration of the
naturally fertile area of the Pakphanang river
basin due to unmanaged population growth, His
Majesty initiated a new co-operation between
government agencies to use more effective
agricultural resources, maximize economic gain,
and reduce harmful environmental practices.
Trick the Soil: A Royal Theory
Following a project to reclaim flooded land
for agriculture, His Majesty initiated a new development
project to reduce the acidity of the reclaimed land.
Experimenting scientifically over a period of years,
the Klaeng Din project has resulted in new practices
for reliably controlling and predicting soil pH.
Renewable Energy
Long before the need of renewable biofuel was
widely apparent, His Majesty was actively researching the
resource potential or locally-made palm oil. The resulting
biodiesel has become a standard additive in the nation’s
fuel, and its local sourcing is an inspiration for ongoing
research.