From poppy field to botanic garden

Doi Tung project of the Royal Mother of Thailand:

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Princess Mother Srinagarindra

The capital city of Thailand, Bangkok is a popular travel destination for many Sri Lankans for shopping, entertainment, sight seeing and business. But few would have visited beautiful Chiang Rai, the northern most province of Thailand. There are many places of tourist attraction in Chiang Rai which is a province entrusted with an essential component of cultural preservation to conserve the environment in which the art and artifacts were c reated. Above all other attractions the Doi Tung development project of Mae Fah Luang Foundation under the Royal patronage is a not to miss unique attraction for travellers with their families of all walks of life to Thailand. It was relaxing, entertaining, educational, inspirational and admirable to witness the Doi Tung. Development Project which is a perfect blend of cultural charm and natural splendor.

Doi Tung lies in the midst of the Doi Nang Non range along the

Thai-Myanmar border which was an opium cultivation 30 years ago. The tour guides first take the visitors to the magnificent botanical garden with lush greenery, a result of reforestation. The flora and fauna the garden are changed throughout the year, so that the natural carpet of blooms reflects the contrasting seasons. The hill tribes and others have revived their lives, ending their earlier harmful agricultural practices and stopping the lucrative opium trade and taking up instead, environmentally sustainable farming of temperate fruits, vegetables, flowers, coffee and macademia nuts. They have modified their traditional skills in embroidery and weaving to produce handicrafts which combine native raw materials and local artistry with modern styles.

The Doi Tung Royal Villa, where the princess Mother lived from time to time is a beautiful architectural style two-storeyed house perched on a split -level slope combines Lanna style.

The opium cultivation in early days.

The stunning botanical garden now

A 15-minute film shown at the auditorium gives the whole story of the project afterwards. Minorities from many diverse ethnic groups are able to co-exist peacefully in the hills of Doi Tung. Though fiercely proud of their traditions yet they were able to adapt themselves to the modern world. It is a way of life of a community of men hard at work in the forested gardens and to a wonderful display of flora and fauna whose beauty is beyond description. International students world over are also encouraged to come there and follow a three-day in a house program. The journey is not complete unless another day is spent to visit the Opium Hall at the Golden Triangle Park which is another major tourist attraction. The program at the Hall of Opium aims to put a humane face on the tragic effects of drug abuse and addiction and thereby bringing into the hearts and souls of the public the sad implications of still more of man's inhumanity to man.

The Doi Tung philosophy was initiated to achieve the vision of the late Princess Srinagarindra, mother of the present King of Thailand, who was a great humane lady who was honoured by UNESCO in 2000 as one of the outstanding citizens of the Millennium. She had worked to improve the living conditions of rural Thais, particularly the ethnic minorities in the remote mountainous areas that were only accessible by a helicopter. This very image of the Princess Mother descending from the skies gave rise to the name "Mae Fah Luang" means (Royal mother from the sky) which became the affectionate title by which she is addressed by local people. It was her vision to conceive a model for a better society, one that is inclusive of all people. The Doi Tung Development Project is a holistic and integrated sustainable alternative livelihood development initiative which is the culmination of the Princess Mother's lifelong dedication to development work.

After the passing away of the Princess Mother, His Majesty the King placed the foundation under his patronage and appointed his daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as its chairperson. The Foundation's central mission is to keep the Princess Mother's development legacy alive to benefit as many people as possible and to inspire new generations to be responsible, engaged citizens. This is an exemplary, live and practical project for any developing country in the world.

The Doi Tung journey began thirty years ago when the Thai people made a commitment to rid the country of opium cultivation, Farmers who grew opium were mired in poverty, lacking incentives and prospects to improve their economic and social conditions. More importantly they lacked alternatives that would allow them a legitimate sustainable livelihood. The project was launched to improve the poor farmers' lot. The agricultural changes at Doi Tung were a result of the environmental thrust of the first five years of the Project. One of the main goals was to provide Financial Assistance for the rural families to reforest Doi Tung so that off farm income opportunities could be generated with the reduction of agricultural areas, alternatives to cropping were required to enable the people to earn as much as before from their reduced agricultural area and also to make agricultural development environmentally sound. People's lives could become better only if they were provided with economically viable and sustainable alternatives to opium cultivation. Although the growing problem of opium cultivation in the hills endangered national security and the welfare of hill people the Royal family decided not to destroy opium poppies until viable income generating alternatives were found.

An aerial view of the poppy field then.

The approach to dealing with those who had cultivated opium as their main source of income, was find an alternative means to supplement their basic needs like food, shelter health, clothing etc. Then only people will consider their alternative livelihood supportmeans. Then the project was set up to implement agricultural changes and over the time to develop a new social infrastructure.

The long-term development objective of the project is to gain sufficient experience and have resources made available for them to be able to help themselves .The project is scheduled to be completed by year 2017.

The medium-term objective is to rehabilitate the ecosystem that had degraded for decades due to deforestation, unsustainable agriculture and opium cultivation. This is being achieved through the development of economic and social incentives and implementation of alternative development priorities and provision of sustainable livelihood options to the residents of Doi Tung.

Primary healthcare facilities have been set up and are operated as a part of the government's healthcare system. Similarly local primary education has been integrated into Thai Government's education system.

Doi Tung Lifestyle Shops carry variety of products that include hand-woven products such as apparels, accessories, and home decor, hand-tufted carpets, ceramicware, and mulberry paper products. The Project is recognized by many countries for its success in using sustainable alternative livelihood development as a substitute for illicit crop cultivation.