HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Visited Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development at Buriram Province

On 13 May, 2016, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development of the Chaipattana Foundation. On this occasion, Her Royal Highness proceeded to royal-granted jasmine rice number 105 production community “Friends for Friends”, located at Lampraimad district, Buriram province.

Thai jasmine rice 105 “Friends for Friends” project was initiated by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn with an aim to preserve good quality jasmine rice during emergency period affected jasmine rice production.

On October, 2013, great deluge hit North Eastern provinces of Thailand rendering great loss to farmers in those areas. The farmers drastically lost their main incomes from rice farming because the rice can be grown and harvested once a year. Her Royal Highness acknowledged that the farmers in Lampraimad district and Chamni district in Buriram province have been affected from the great deluge. Their homes and rice farms were submerged under water. Her Royal Highness, therefore, graciously presented Thai specie jasmine rice number 105 preserved at Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development in Surin province in the amount of 185.6 tons to 953 affected farmers. Her Royal Highness also commanded the Chaipattana Foundation to encourage the famers at Lampraimad district and Chamni district, Buriram province to participate in this project.

The farmers at Nongdon subdistrict, Lampraimad district, Buriram province are willing to join the project “Friends for Friends”. The administration staff of this project was appointed to manage and control the quality of rice.

During the rice quality control process, the staff randomly selected 1 kilogram of rice seeds to measure humidity level and look for contaminated seeds. This process have been conducted twice to ensure the quality control. The good quality rice which passed the standard quality test were given higher price.

In 2015, the producers of jasmine rice 105 who participated in “Friends for Friends” project are capable of producing rice grains with the amount of around 28 tons.

Her Royal Highness acknowledged that the farmers are required to have great effort and perseverance in order to produce high quality rice. The staff needs to pay close attention in the processes of production, for example soil preparation, seed selection, planting method, weed control, harvesting and delivery methods.