Royal Initiative Projects
For Water Soil
Organic Agriculture
เพื่อโครงการ ดวงใจหทัยราษฏร์ ปราชญ์แห่งน้ำ
เพื่อเกษตรกรคนไทย และ สู่การเป็นครัวของโลก
The royal projects initiated by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) encompass holistic agricultural development, particularly the concepts of "Sufficiency Economy" and "New Theory," which form the basis of organic farming and product processing. The advisory committee respectfully requests His Majesty's permission to compile and summarize the following royal projects:
For the purpose of development, continuation, and application:
1.) The Wise Man of Water Project (WMW)
2.) The M7 Bueng Boraphet Project, also known as the Maldives Second City (MSC)
💧1. Royal Project on Water Management for Agriculture
These projects primarily aim to address water scarcity and manage water resources sustainably for agriculture in particular.
Water Management for Agriculture
Project Name (Thai) / Project Name (English) / Short Description
1.) Monkey Cheek Project: A natural water storage project or small reservoir to receive water from rivers and canals during floods before releasing it into the sea when the water level recedes, preventing flooding and serving as a reserve water source during the dry season.
2.) Check Dam: A small structure built across a stream or waterway to reduce water speed and retain sediment, helping to maintain moisture in the surrounding forest areas, which are the source of the water.
3.) Dam and Reservoir Projects: Projects to construct dams and reservoirs of various sizes to store rainwater and water from natural sources for agricultural use, consumption, and electricity generation.
3.) Surface/Groundwater Development: Projects to survey and develop various water sources, including drilling wells, to ensure farmers have sufficient water, especially in drought-stricken areas.
4.) Water Distribution System: Construction of irrigation canals and pipe systems to transport water from reservoirs. (Dam/reservoir) / To distribute water to agricultural areas thoroughly and efficiently.
🌱2.) Royal Project on Soil Management and Improvement for Agriculture
These projects focus on restoring and improving the quality of degraded soils or soils with specific problems, so that they can be used efficiently for cultivation.
Project Name (Thai) / Project Name (English) / Short Description
1.) "Fooling the Soil" Project: A technique for improving highly acidic sulfate soil by alternately flooding and drying the soil to accelerate the acidity reaction to the maximum extent, before improving it with lime and fresh water.
2.) Peat Soil Reclamation: Managing peat soil (soil with high organic matter content) by controlling the groundwater level to prevent subsidence and soil toxicity, and recommending suitable plants.
3.) Saline Soil Remediation: Improving saline soil by leaching salt from the topsoil, using salt-tolerant plants, or creating underground drainage systems. To restore the soil to arable use:
4.) Vetiver Grass: Projects using vetiver grass planted in rows along the contour lines perpendicular to the slope of the land to prevent soil erosion and maintain soil moisture.
5.) Royal Development Study Centres (RDSC): These centers function as "living natural museums" to study, experiment, research, and demonstrate methods for solving soil and water problems in various areas before disseminating them to farmers.
💧🌱 3. Land Plotting for Organic Agriculture (for Soil, Water, Crop Cultivation, and Animal Husbandry): These projects focus on sustainable farm resource management, reducing chemical use and promoting self-sufficiency based on the New Theory of Agriculture.
Land Plotting for Organic Agriculture (for Soil, Water, Crop Cultivation, and Animal Husbandry)
Project Name/Concept (Thai) Short Description
1.) New Theory Agriculture / Efficient management of small-scale agricultural land, dividing the area into four parts in a 30:30:30:10 ratio: Water (30% for water storage ponds), Rice (30% for rice cultivation), Horticulture/Field Crops (30% for mixed cropping), and Housing (10% for living and animal husbandry). Emphasis is placed on self-sufficiency and forms the foundation of organic farming.
2.) Integrated Farming / The concept of cultivating various types of crops and raising diverse animals in the same area to create a mutually beneficial relationship, such as raising fish in a pond and using the pond water to irrigate crops. This reduces the use of chemicals and promotes nutrient cycling, which is the heart of organic farming.
3.) Using vetiver grass / planting vetiver grass to conserve soil and water, prevent soil erosion, and maintain moisture, which are important factors in improving soil quality to support organic farming.
4.) Soil correction using natural techniques / various projects such as "soil remediation" (correcting acidic soil) and correcting saline soil, focusing on the use of lime (natural material) or water management to restore soil conditions without using harmful chemicals.
4. Processing of Organic Agricultural Products (from crop cultivation and animal husbandry)
Although the project name doesn't specifically state "Processing of Organic Agricultural Products" directly, various royal initiative projects often emphasize adding value to produce and creating supplementary income, which are key principles of product processing.
Project Name/Concept (Thai) / Short Description
1.) Royal Development Study Centers / Serving as comprehensive learning centers that, in addition to demonstrating crop cultivation and animal husbandry, also transfer knowledge in food processing and preservation (e.g., making brown rice, making organic fertilizer from plant waste) so that farmers can increase value and sell their products throughout the year.
2.) Promotion of Traditional Occupations and Handicrafts / Encouraging people to process agricultural produce and local wisdom into products such as herbal products, silk weaving using natural dyes, and processing seasonal fruits to create supplementary income and strengthen the economy.
3.) Creating Cooperative and Farmer Group Networks / Forming farmer groups to manage produce together, both in terms of environmentally friendly production and pooling resources in processing and marketing, which helps reduce costs and increase bargaining power in trade.
4.) Home Industry / The concept of encouraging farmer households to utilize their produce. (Both plant and animal products) are processed at the household level into quality and standardized products to create economic stability for the family.
5.) 💧 🌿 Royal Initiative Projects: Organic Agriculture and Processing (Detailed Version)
This table compiles a list of plants and animals promoted in organic farming systems based on the royal initiatives (especially the "New Theory" and "Integrated Farming").
1.) List of Plants and Animals (Organic Agriculture) / 2.) Related Royal Initiative Projects / 3.) Short Description / 4.) Processing of Organic Agricultural Products / 5.) YouTube Search Topics (Example)
1.) Rice (Jasmine Rice, Glutinous Rice, Riceberry Rice) / New Theory (Part 2), Development Study Center / Key Crops for Food Security and Consumption Focus on reducing/eliminating the use of chemicals in rice paddies / brown rice, hand-milled rice, rice milk, organic rice flour, rice crackers / "New Theory Rice", "Organic Rice Farming Following the King's Footsteps", "Rice Processing"
2.) Kitchen garden vegetables (chili peppers, eggplants, kale, cabbage) / New Theory (Part 3), integrated farming / growing for household consumption to reduce expenses and sell surplus / drying vegetables, pickled vegetables/fruits, organic chili paste, vegetable tea / "Kitchen Garden Vegetables for Sufficiency Agriculture", "Vegetable Processing"
3.) Medicinal plants (Andrographis paniculata, turmeric, lemongrass) / promoting occupations in development study centers / growing for basic medicinal purposes and using as ingredients in herbal capsules, ready-to-drink herbal beverages, herbal teas, organic soap / "Medicinal Plants for Sufficiency Agriculture", "Medicinal Plants Processing"
4.) Fruit trees (mango, coconut, banana, lemon) / New Theory (Part 3), integrated farming / growing to create supplementary income. and provide shade in agricultural areas / Dried bananas, banana chips, bottled coconut water, fruit jam, dried fruits / "Fruit tree planting following the King's footsteps", "Banana and mango processing"
5.) Soil-improving plants (mung beans, cowpeas, sunn hemp) / Soil improvement, organic farming / Planting to be plowed under as green manure (organic fertilizer) to help increase nitrogen and improve soil structure (emphasis on use as green manure) Processed into products from bean seeds/organic fertilizer / "Sunn hemp for soil improvement", "Green manure according to the Royal Initiative"
6.) Fish (catfish, tilapia, Nile tilapia) / New Theory (Part 1), water resource management / Raising in ponds to be an important protein source for households and helps eliminate aquatic weeds. Sun-dried fish, fermented fish, pickled fish, organic fish sauce (from sea fish) / "New Theory of Fish Farming", "Tilapia Processing"
7.) Chickens (laying hens, native broiler chickens) / New Theory (Part 4), integrated farming / Raising for egg and meat consumption. Chicken manure is used as a main ingredient in making organic fertilizer / Salted eggs, century eggs, dried chicken, fermented pork/sausage (from chicken meat) / "Raising Laying Hens: Sufficiency Agriculture", "Making Chicken Manure Compost"
8.) Cattle/Buffalo / New Theory (Part 4) / Raising for labor (in the past) and using animal manure as an important organic fertilizer for soil improvement / Sun-dried meat, processed cow/buffalo hides (utilization), dairy products / "Manure Fertilizer According to the Royal Initiative", "Raising Cattle: Sufficiency Agriculture"
9.) Bees/Stingless Bees / Integrated farming, promoting occupations / Raising to help pollinate plants And harvesting products from honey and beehives / bottled honey, bee pollen, honeycomb, honey cream/products / "Beekeeping, Sufficiency Economy Agriculture", "Organic Honey".
6.) 💧 Groundwater Bank Project: This project applies the concept and related projects to water management in this manner. This concept is an application of the water management principles based on the royal initiatives of King Rama IX (the King's Science), especially regarding sustainable water storage and the prevention of floods and droughts.
6.1 Groundwater Bank Project
1.) Project Name: Groundwater Bank
2. Project Description:
A groundwater bank is a system focused on sustainable flood and drought management. Its principles are:
Water replenishment: Creating channels (such as open or closed wells) to send excess water from the surface (such as rainwater or floodwater) to seep through the soil layers and be stored in water-bearing rock/sand layers (aquifers) underground.
Storage: The sand and rock layers act as large natural water reservoirs. The water that seeps in is filtered to become cleaner through soil processes.
Utilization: During the dry season or when there is a water shortage, farmers can pump the water stored in these underground layers for use throughout the year.
3. Main Government Agencies Involved
Although this project is extensively implemented by various agencies ranging from community to national levels, the main agency directly responsible for groundwater resources is: the Department of Groundwater Resources (DGR) (under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment).
Note: Other agencies involved in promoting and expanding the project include the Department of Land Development (for soil and water management) and the Department of Local Administration (for driving the project in the area).
💧6.2 Methodology of Implementation: Groundwater Bank Project
The Groundwater Bank project is a water management concept that applies the principles of water storage based on His Majesty the King's philosophy (Royal Science) to sustainably solve the problems of flooding during the rainy season and drought during the dry season. It focuses on storing water in aquifers (sand or rock layers that hold underground water).
1. Detailed Methodology (2 Main Systems)
Groundwater banks are divided into two main systems, which have different implementation methods depending on the area and objectives:
1.1 Closed System
This is a small-scale system that focuses on water management at the household or small community level. Suitable for areas with clay soil, compacted soil, or areas with problems of waterlogging, contaminated water, or wastewater from buildings.
Purpose: To solve waterlogging problems in residential areas, filter wastewater, and increase moisture in shallow soil.
Method:
Digging/Drilling a well: Dig a hole approximately 50 cm to 1 meter in diameter and 1-2 meters deep (or deeper if the soil is very compact).
Inserting filter media: Place large stones/tunnel rocks, coarse gravel, biochar (to absorb waste), and possibly cover with nylon mesh to prevent soil debris.
Installing pipes: Insert perforated PVC pipes vertically into the hole to create channels for water to flow easily and quickly into the subsoil.
Backfilling and sealing the well: Backfill with stones and gravel around the pipe, then seal the top of the well with soil or plant vetiver grass to prevent soil erosion.
Utilization: Rainwater or wastewater flowing into the well will seep through the filter media and pipe holes and be stored in the soil.
1.2 Open System
This is a large-scale system that focuses on water management at the level of large-scale agricultural areas or at the sub-district/village level. Suitable for areas with shallow aquifers.
Objective: To solve drought problems in agricultural areas and replenish the main groundwater aquifer.
Method:
Site Selection: This is usually done in lowlands, swamps, or streams that were previously shallow and prone to flooding.
Drilling: Existing swamps/streams are dredged, and wells are drilled or dug through the thick clay layer to reach the water-bearing rock or sand layer (groundwater aquifer).
Creating a Water Recharge Channel: Old wells may be improved or a sump/channel may be constructed to create a large channel for surface water or floodwater to seep into the groundwater in large quantities.
Usage: Water is replenished into the main groundwater aquifer. During the dry season, water levels in surface wells or groundwater wells in the surrounding area rise, making it possible to pump water for use.
2. Examples of Success in Thailand and Abroad
2.1 Examples of Success in Thailand
Example of Success / Details of Success
1.) Wat Boonrueng Suwannaram, Chiang Rai Province, is a model area of success. 1.) Phra Nithet Sasanakun (Luang Pho Saman Siripanyo) implemented this concept, resulting in the temple's pond never drying up throughout the year, providing villagers with a sustainable water source for consumption and daily use.
2.) Nong Wawa Agricultural Village, Chachoengsao Province, a community that previously suffered from recurring droughts, has adopted an underground water bank system for water management, enabling year-round agriculture, creating income stability, and becoming a learning center for other communities.
3.) Ban Huai Kaeo, Nam Yuen District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, an area once known as the "National Drought-Stricken Village," has implemented an open underground water bank system for water management, effectively resolving the water shortage crisis.
2.2 Examples of Success Abroad
Although the names may differ, the principle of recharging groundwater is internationally recognized under the name Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) or Groundwater Banking.
Country/Region / Details of Success
1.) California, USA / Groundwater Banking techniques are used to replenish surface water (from rivers or rainwater) into large underground aquifers, especially in agricultural areas, to address land subsidence problems. Caused by excessive groundwater pumping.
2.) India (Gujarat and arid areas) / Similar techniques are used, such as constructing check dams or percolation tanks to retain surface water and allow it to seep down.