A royally-initiated project in Chiang Mai, Thailand that aims to reduce the number of opium plantations has become a roaring success.
It is among the many initiatives across the country.
The late King Bhumibol Adulyadej first visited the Thung Roeng Ranch in 1977 and initiated a scheme to encourage hill tribe individuals to plant fruits and vegetables instead of opium.
An abandoned ranch in the area has now become Thung Roeng Royal Project Development Centre, where resident’s meagre per-household income has reached Bt100,000 each year.
Several overseas assistance programmes were unsuccessful in their bid to grow fruits and plants for the project during its first seven years until an experiment to grow avocado proved fruitful the following year.
Currently, the avocado plantation under the royal project has become the largest in this province, in addition to producing a large volume of other fruits and vegetables which are mostly organically nurtured.
The avocados and other goods produced from the farm are also made into other products including ice cream, soap and skin care products.