Thailand : Royal Golden Jubilee : Royal Project

Growing numbers of hilltribe people were accelerating their
slash-and-bum practices in the highlands in order to clear land for the cultivation of rice, corn and opium poppy, the rice and corn for their own food, the opium poppy to be sold or exchanged for other needed commodities.

In 1959 the State had promulgated legislation banning the cultivation of the opium poppy, but there did not exist at the time any research and development programs to help provide the hilltribe people with alternatives. For several years they had no choice but to covertly, with

this their only cash crop. Not only were their activities illegal but they also posed a threat to border security and to the nation's vitally important watershed areas. In response to the problem. His Majesty King Bhumibol conceived and launched the Royal Project in 1969.

The Royal Project, under the directorship of H.S.H. Prince Bhisatej Rajani,was intended as a seminal project which would help fund - from His Majesty The King's own private funds - much needed highland agricultural research. development and experi- mentation work, prior to and parallel with the intensive

efforts of state agencies to build up their capability in these newly recognised areas of national concern. The Royal Project activities would, it was planned. be flexible and responsive to developing situations, would operate under a minimum of rules and regulations, and would thus be in a good

position to assist the various government works.

and would thus be in a good position to assist the various
government works.

The Royal Project has four major objectives :

1. Offer a helping hand to all humankind;

2. Ensure natural resources for conserving a sustainable future;

3. Eradicate opium poppy cultivation and opium derived addiction problems;

4. Encourage a wise and proper balance in utilising and conserving land and forest resources.

Research and development were priorities for the Project's first decade. When meaningful extension work began to be carried out, the Project began gradually, but dramatically, to see significant results.

From the beginning, many agencies have
cooperated with the Royal Project to

establish the work on strong foundations.These agencies indude; universities, the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperatives, of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Interior, State Owned Enterprises, the private sector, international organi- zations and foreign qovernments.

The work of the Royal Project has evolved into four major endeavours: research, agricultural extension, deve- lopment, and socioeconomic activities.