Ban Mae Tam is in Amphoe Soem Ngam, Lampang. Traveling to the district from the provincial town of Lampang takes a long time, as the distance is quite considerable. Ban Mae Tam is located inside a forest reserve that once was quite fertile. But the slash-and-burn cultivation and logging business at the hands of the locals had degraded the forest. The population is composed primarily of lowland Thais made poor and needy by the shortage of tillable land and lack of agricultural know-how.
In January 1984, during the change of residence to Phuphing Palace, Chiang Mai, Her Majesty, accompanied by H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, visited the people in Amphoe Soem Ngam, Lampang. The Venerable Phra Khru Sophon, Ecclesiastical Head of Amphoe Soem Ngam (who is now deceased), informed Her Majesty that there was a poor village called Ban Mae Tam located in the mountains, with little land suitable for growing rice. Most of the people there practiced slash-and-burn agriculture and logging. The Venerable Monk wanted to see the people of this village live a better and more secure life. Her Majesty responded to the request by traveling farther to Ban Mae Tam to inspect the conditions there.
On seeing the village and learning of the plight of the villagers, Her Majesty gave an order that a special SUPPORT project be implemented to help the locals. After an initial land survey, it was discovered that the area is a good source of good-quality kaolin that can be used in firing and making ceramics. A ceramics training facility therefore was built, with support from local and central agencies that have expertise in the ceramics industry. Specialists were sent to advise and train the people in artistic creativity and the various stages of the production technique.
Not long afterwards, the SUPPORT product line was greatly expanded, creating more employment opportunities for the locals in textiles, basketry, and carving, for example.
The project committee, comprising a number of government agencies, originally joined hands and responded to Her Majesty's instruction that the SUPPORT project be given guidance and supervision so as to lead to the improvement of living conditions and thus resolve the problems besetting the people of Ban Mae Tam. In due course, the committee has expanded the scope of operations by replacing the SUPPORT project with the extensive Ban Mae Tam Development Project, since its inception on 25 February 1988. The new aid package aims to help the people of Ban Mae Tam in their agricultural occupation, environmentally restorative cultivation, and tourism development, while their SUPPORT enterprise has been retained.
In the future, Ban Mae Tam is destined to become a cultural and agro-tourist attraction of great interest because the locals succeeded in turning degraded forests into virgin forests and fertile soil for cultivation. The village grows pesticide-free vegetables and manages livestock farming and fresh-water fish hatcheries. Meanwhile, the SUPPORT products of Ban Mae Tam continue to be turned out in the form of beautiful and high-quality ceramics in all shapes and sizes. The outstanding works are much in demand by all who see them.