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'€œOne of the reasons underlying the creation of the project was humanitarianism; the desire that these people living in remote areas should become self-supporting and more prosperous. Another reason, which has received support from all sides, was to solve the problem of heroin. ('€¦) A further reason which is very important, is that, as is well known, the hill tribes are people who use agricultural methods which, if left unchecked, could bring the country to ruin. In other words, they cut down trees and practice '€˜slash and burn'€™ methods that are totally wrong. If we help them, it is tantamount to the country in general having a better standard of living and security.'€

His Majesty the King on Jan. 10, 1969 at the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University

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The early beginnings

The Royal Project was created after His Majesty the King visited the hill-tribe village of Doi Pui in 1969. During this visit, the King learned of a variety of peach tree that provided the local farmers with a higher income than the opium poppy. His Majesty realized that alternative agriculture including fruit trees as a major component could be used to replace opium and would generate higher incomes, solving the problems of poverty, opium production and deforestation at the same time. His Majesty immediately called on national and international agencies to make this vision a reality, and the Royal Project was born.

Success today

The success of the Royal Projects in Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son) can be seen in various aspects such as:
Opium elimination
Previously, opium cultivation was considered a criminal issue to be addressed by means of law enforcement. His Majesty perceived that opium production was primarily a development issue and could be addressed by means of sustainable agricultural and social development. This approach, known as alternative development, is now recognized as the best long-term solution to drug-crop production, and is being implemented all over the world.
Poverty eradication
Through the introduction of more than 150 temperate and semi-temperate zone crops, the Royal Project has brought hill-tribe farmers an average income that compares well with, and in many cases exceeds, the average for the north of Thailand. The average income per family is currently 64,000 Baht per year, whereas typical incomes at the time of inception of the Royal Project would have been around 4000 Baht for opium growing families, and less for subsistence-farming dominated families.  
Health
The Royal Project has made socio-economic improvements in the following area: Family planning, the provision of health services, vaccinations and health education. This was achieved through primary healthcare, the provision of sanitation and water-supply infrastructure, dietary improvements (driven by income increases and agricultural diversification), the provision of access to medical services and the implementation of community-based drug-treatment programs.
Education and social development
Hill tribes are traditionally illiterate, and were unable to attend schools due to lack of facilities, a lack of parental income and the need to use child labor in farming. Children in the Royal Project now almost universally receive primary schooling in specifically built local schools and can pursue secondary schooling if they and their parents wish. There is also a scholarship program allowing further education. Moreover, the Royal Project provides extensive non-formal education to children and adults on health, farming, the environment, business skills and career development. Another great achievement was social and community development through health and education improvements, education on family planning, women'€™s issues and reproductive rights, and support for individual entrepreneurialism through encouraging eco-tourism and handicraft and increasing incomes.
Self-sufficient management of environmental resources
Besides all these other social development programs, the Royal Project and the Highland Research and Development Institute have saved tens of thousands of hectares of forest from destruction by '€œslash-and-burn'€ cultivation. The environmental benefit is preventing soil erosion and loss of tree cover. A major achievement is to have proved that people and forests can coexist, according to His Majesty the King'€™s theory of '€˜Three Types of Wood for Four Types of Uses'€; the theory that if farmers are allowed to grow trees for agricultural purposes, they will replace the forest and indeed continually expand it, thus protecting watershed.
Peace
One of the greatest achievements of His Majesty'€™s Royal Project and the Highland Research and Development Institute is its significant contribution to stabilizing the social fabric of the northern Thai highland regions by bringing relative prosperity to the highlands, implementing the rule of law and pacifying hill tribes that might otherwise have been a force of social unrest and even rebellion.

Visiting the Royal Projects

Today, visitors and tourists can learn about the Royal Projects and support the cause by visiting the centers. Some amazing examples are:

Royal Park Rajapruek, Chiang Mai
This majestic botanical garden is a center for plant collection and a learning center on projects initiated by His Majesty the King. These projects are focused on horticulture, biodiversity, landscape development, medical plants and traditional health practices as well as to promote environmentally sustainable and responsible green development throughout the nation.
Bang Sai Arts & Crafts Center, Ayutthaya
This center is under the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT), which was established under Royal Patronage, and promoting crafts made by the farmers in Ayutthaya. Supported also by Tourism Authority of Thailand, the center showcases the different aspects of architecture of Thai houses as well as their ways of living and culture. Lifestyle and handicraft demonstrations are provided daily, including weekends, and classical dances and folk entertainment from four regions in Thailand are performed during 4:30-5.30 p.m. on weekends and national holidays.
Pang Ung lake, Mae Hong Son
Pang Ung is officially called '€œThe Royal Forest Project at Pang Tong 2 [Pang Ung]'€ which has a forest of pine trees surrounding a large water reservoir. The atmosphere is charmingly quiet, especially during the winter mornings in December to January.
In the past, this area was the opium plantation run by hill tribes. Now they grow colorful winter flowers and herbs that are useful for Thai foods and medicines. Here, visitors can sip fresh coffee from the plantation and learn about the lifestyle of hill tribes.
DoiInthanon Royal Projects, Chiang Mai
This Royal Project is in Khun Klang village, close to the park headquarters. The project was initiated in 1979 to help the hill tribes to cultivate cash crops other than opium and train them in modern agricultural practices. Most produce is from temperate zone plants. Flower plantations, a plant breeding research lab and flower plantations of hill tribes (Hmong) are open to visitors.

Sources:
-          Tourism Authority of Thailand
-          Highland Research and Development Institute

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