The King undertook the establishment of the Royal Devel
opment Projects in 1969, primarily as a means of arresting the opium growing and deforestation caused by the Hilltribes’ slash and burn agriculture and to improve their standard of living. The first was established at a Hmong village on Doi Pui in Chiang Mai Province and now has spread to Chiang Rai, Lamphun and Mae Hong Son.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the site of the “Mae Lanoi Project” on 14 March 1992. The project was initiated by a Royal edict from the King himself expanding the growth of elephant grass (typha elephantina) to prevent erosion in Ban Dong, Huay Hom Sub-district, Mae Lanoi District, Mae Hong Son Province.
Over the years, the Project has been instrumental in the conversion of the poppy fields being turned into groves of temperate fruits and vegetables.
Under the dynamic direction of the King’s close colleague, Prince Bhisadej Rajani, who is the director, the Royal Project is celebrating its 31st anniversary this year and currently has four research stations, 35 Royal Project Development Centres that incorporate some 295 villages, comprising 14,000 households and approximately 85,000 farmers.