Royal Initiatives:

On 11 September 1983, His Majesty the King gave an initiative to consider establishing a centre to collect studies, researches and experimentations on various topics of agricultural knowledge and demonstrate the results in the form of a living natural museum. The centre is also aimed to provide a comprehensive service or a “one-stop service” for farmers and the general public and serves as the model of success in agricultural development and occupational promotion. Following that, His Majesty delivered a number of initiatives regarding various topics on different occasions as follows:

- Alternative energy: In 1985, His Majesty gave an initiative concerning alternative energy by considering the cultivation of sugarcane and cassava to extract alcohol to be mixed with benzene and become gasohol. Another consideration was to plant physic nuts for extracting oil which can be used in place of diesel. Then in 2008, His Majesty gave an initiative to the executives of the Ministry of Science and Technology at the Chitralada Palace stating that the use of biodiesel among the farmers or with the diesel engine should be promoted widely and soon.

- Soil acidity aggravation: In 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992 and 1993, His Majesty suggested that the Centre experiment on making the soil extremely acidic to the point that plants could not grow and conduct a study on soil improvement for agricultural uses to offer solutions for soil acidity among the farmers in Narathiwat province. Moreover, there should be additional studies to monitor the change of soil acidity.

- Improvement of soil acidity at Khok Krathom Village: In 1993, His Majesty advised the Centre to develop the areas where the soil was acidic but with a good irrigation system similar to the implementation at Khok It – Khok Nai Village.

- Extension work: In 1992, His Majesty suggested the Centre to extend the results from the studies to Khok It – Khok Nai Village by developing the areas which are not productive for rice cultivation. Once successful, these results should be extended to the areas with a complete irrigation system.

- The Royal-initiated Bang Nara Basin Development Project: In 1999, Her Majesty the Queen gave an initiative for the Centre to improve the implementations of the Royal-initiated Bang Nara Basin Development Project by encouraging the farmers to make an effective use of land and ensuring that the project meet the objectives set.

- Improvement of the nutrition of children aged between 0 – 72 months: In 1988 and 1993, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn gave an initiative to improve the nutritional conditions of the children aged between 0 – 72 months in Narathiwat Province where children faced with a serious nutritional problem and which was different from other provinces regarding the acceptance of the change in eating habits.

- Child Development Centre: In 1990, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn initiated the establishment of a Child Development Centre to take care of the children aged between 2 – 5 years and ensure that they grow up with proper developments.

Objectives:

1. To conduct studies, researches, and experimentations on soil development to obtain successful results for disseminating among the farmers and the general public.

2. To conduct studies on the cultivation of various plants suitable with the conditions of soil and water in the locality.

3. To conduct studies on the management of soil and water in swamp peat areas to promote the proper use of these resources.

4. To extend the successful results from the studies, researches and experimentations to the farmers in the target areas, in the surrounding villages and around the centre branches.

5. To make the small-scale biodiesel oil extracting and processing plant a model for the community in energy saving by focusing on the transferring of the knowledge regarding small-scale biodiesel oil extracting to reduce costs of inputs.

6. To promote the knowledge on the processing of milk wood with value adding to be a substitute plant that is locally available.

7. To solve the problem of nutrition and development of young children aged between 0 – 72 months in order to make them healthy.

8. To enable the children aged between 0 -72 months in the rural areas to be in a good health and mind.

9. To support the Agriculture for Lunch Project of the Border Patrol Police Schools and elementary schools.

Areas of Implementation:

1. The Pikun Thong Royal Development Study Centre, Muang District, Narathiwat Province
2. 19 villages in Muang, Takbai and Jo Ai Rong Districts
3. 13 surrounding villages of the Centre in Muang District, Narathiwat Province
4. 2 centre branches at the Livestock and Agricultural Village Project at Muno, Narathiwat Province and the Royal-initiated Area Development Project at Yuyo Village, Khun Thong Subdistrict, Tak Bai District, Narathiwat Province Project
5. A project in the royal area of Su-ngai Padi District, Narathiwat Province and another project in the Royal-initiated Khae-Khae Swamp Area Development Project, Sai Buri District, Pattani Province
6. 16 Child Development Centres in Narathiwat Province and 1 centre in Pattani Province
7. The target areas of the Nutrition Improvement Project for Children Aged 0 -72 months in 13 districts of Narathiwat Province

Responsible Agencies:

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

Land Development Department

Implementations:

1.  

   1. Conducting of studies and researches on the following topics:

   - The use of liquid organic fertilizer with rice in highly acidic soil

   - The use of liquid organic fertilizer with vegetables in highly acidic soil

   - Soil and water conservation with the use of vetiver grass in areas of different gradient

   - The cultivation of physic nuts

- The influence of leguminous plants on the increase of organic carbon matters in acidic soil

- The selection and development of plants suitable for use as green manure and mulching for soil nourishment and increase of production

2. Demonstration of the management of acidic soil for crop cultivation
3. Agricultural development e.g. conservation and study of the Caladium species, culture and propagation of Caladium
4. Forestry development e.g. propagation of Pikun Thong trees, training of the processing of milk wood for making handicrafts and building materials, training of the Pru To Daeng Forest guardians, promotion of the people’s affection and possession of peat forests
5. Conservation of plant genetics e.g. study and collection of local cassava varieties in Narathiwat Province, support of botanic gardens in schools
6. Extracting and processing of palm oil e.g. demonstration of the production of biodiesel
7. The extension work includes provision of soil improvement substances, dredging of water delivery canals, rice cultivation, field crops cultivation, fruit crops cultivation, production of toxins-free vegetables, enhancement of the efficiency in para rubber production, fish culture using local fish food with supplementary food, mushroom culture between rows of para rubber, management of oil palm plantation in peat soil, raising and processing of aquatic animals, fish raising in floating baskets.

Achievements:

1. The centre provides a one-stop service for solving the problems of people and farmers in Narathiwat Province
2. The activity of the Palm Oil Extracting and Processing Plant helps reduce the costs of energy consumption by farmers.
3. The extension work has effectively led to the improvement of acidic soil and increase of its productivity. This in turn results in an increase of rice production which promotes the better income and living of the people in 19 villages of 4 districts of Narathiwat and Pattani Provinces.
4. The milk wood processing activity which is being implemented at the model plant in the Centre enables the farmers to have an occupation in handicraft making and learn to use the natural resources close to them in an efficient manner without hurting the environment.
5. The cultivation of Caladium is an activity which offers a supplementary income and knowledge for the students involved in the Agriculture for Lunch Project of the Border Patrol Police Schools
6. The Child Development Centres which at present total 17 promotes the good health and the better quality of life of pre-school children and teenagers living in the surrounding villages of the Centre
7. The Nutrition Improvement Project of the Children Aged 0 – 72 months in 588 villages of 13 districts promotes the knowledge of nutrition among the parents enabling the children in the target areas to have a better quality of life both physically and mentally.