Royal Initiatives:

On 15 November 1994, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit visited the people in Phu Sing District and suggested the agencies concerned to jointly consider establishing a comprehensive agricultural development centre to assist the villagers who failed in growing rice and setting up a committee to oversee the implementation of the centre similar to a Royal Development Study Centre.

Then on 27 November 2000, Her Majesty accompanied by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince visited the villagers at Wana Sawan Village in Phu Sing District of Si Saket Province. Here, she graciously granted an initiative for the soil experts to consider assisting the villagers regarding the problem of hard-pan soil.

On this same occasion, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also visited the Royal-initiated Phu Sing Agricultural Development Centre Project where he initiated the provision of additional water sources to enable the villagers living around the centre to have sufficient water supply for both agricultural activities and household consumption. His initiatives also included the occupational promotion among the villagers for income generation and improved living standard.

Objectives:

1. To enhance the centre’s efficiency in giving services.

2. To serve as a model plot for the farmers to learn from and to obtain training on agriculture suitable with the area conditions.

3. To serve as a demonstration or training site of marine animals raising for villagers living in the area and nearby areas as well as to promote the development of fishery occupation and the increase of the number of marine animals in natural water sources and schools.

4. To serve as a demonstration site on the knowledge and the management of land in agro-forestry system along with the building of the awareness in conserving and having affection for the natural resources and promoting of forestry occupation among the villagers.

5. To enhance the efficiency in managing water among the water users’ group.

6. To promote and transfer the technology in growing animal fodder and raising animals.

7. To educate, train and transfer the knowledge regarding the ideology, the principles, and the cooperative’s operations both in terms of business management and administration and involvement in the cooperative’s activities.

8. To develop the occupations by enhancing skills in silk weaving.

Areas of Implementation:

Pho Thong Village, Huai Tik Chu Subdistrict, Phu Sing District, Si Saket Province

Responsible Agencies:

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

Department of Agriculture

Department of Agricultural Extension

Department of Fisheries

Royal Irrigation Department

Department of Livestock Development

Cooperative Promotion Department

Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment

Royal Forest Department

Royal Thai Army

The 16^th Infantry, 2^nd Army Area Command

Years of Implementation:

Since 1994

Implementations:

1. Creating a mushroom culture learning site
2. Establishing a learning plot for toxin-free vegetables cultivation
3. Propagating of marine animals
4. Promoting the forestry occupation in accordance with the royal initiative on agro-forestry
5. Developing the occupations related with forestry
6. Creating a nature study trail
7. Training on the knowledge enhancement for the water users’ group
8. Promoting the cultivation of animal fodder

Benefits:

1. The project serves as a centre for providing services to the farmers and those interested. The farmers can apply the skills and experiences from training on their own land according to the proper technical knowledge suitable with the environment.
2. The farmers can obtain the knowledge and understanding from the concrete and comprehensive model both concerning agriculture e.g. mushroom culture and growing toxin-free vegetables, and livestock e.g. growing animal fodder, raising animals and taking care of their health.
3. The villagers and the youth are aware of the importance of conserving the natural resources along with developing the occupations related with forestry to uplift the people’s living standard. They also involve in the optimal management of the water resources.
4. The cooperative system has been improved to ensure high efficiency in the management of businesses and people’s participation in various activities.