Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Travels to Observe the Operation of Thaharn Phandee Project (The Good Farmer Soldiers) in Pattani Province
On 21 September 2023, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn traveled to observe the operation of Thaharn Phandee Project (The Good Farmer Soldiers) at Somdet Phra Suriyothai Camp, Bo Thong Sub-district, Nong Chik District, Pattani Province. Her Royal Highness granted an initiation to the Chaipattana Foundation, by Prince Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development, to collaborate with Royal Thai Army to establish the Good Farmer Soldiers in Pattani. The objective is to provide opportunity to military personnel to learn how to conduct good agricultural practices without using any chemical substances. After finishing military mission, the military officers will be able to bring back and extend the agricultural knowledge derived from this project to their own communities.
Regarding the operations of the Thaharn Phandee Project (The Good Farmer Soldiers) at Somdet Phra Suriyothai Camp, Nong Chik District, Pattani Province, Her Royal Highness graciously granted a permission to the 15th Army Engineer Battalion, 15th Infantry Division, to set up Betong Chicken Breeding Center “Friends for Friends” in the lower southern region on 18 January 2022.
The Betong Chicken Breeding Center "Friends for Friends" is situated within the premises of the Somdet Phra Suriyothai Camp in Pattani Province, covering an area of 10 rai (approximately 4 acres). It includes closed breeding houses, egg hatchery houses, nursery for chicken, semi-open chicken houses, open chicken area and chicken feed storage and production houses. The Project received chicken breeds from the Pikun Thong Royal Development Study Centre in Narathiwat Province, the model farm from an initiation of the Queen Mother Thailand in Betong District, Yala Province, and Betong Hot Spring Farm owned by Mr. Thanarat Rasmipilai.
Currently, there are 1,760 Betong chickens at the center, with 35 parent chickens and 177 chicken’s breeders. In addition, there are vegetable plantation plots which are used as a source of chicken feed. The assistance is also extended to the two schools; Piyaranyanaklonghinwit School in Khok Pho District, and Bakongphithaya School in Nongjik District, Pattani Province. Furthermore, the military personnel also help encourage and promote the cultivation of safe vegetables, raising animals, and raising fish. The produces are used for school lunch project for students. This initiative serves as a learning resource in which the results of “Baan Nee Mee Rak Plook Pak Kin Aeng” (Grow the Veggies in the Home of Love) were extended to the two nearby communities: Pak Lor Sub-district Community in Khok Pho District and Nongjik District in Pattani Province.
