Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Travels to Observe the Operation of Prince Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development in Surin Province
On 22 August 2023, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn traveled to observe the operation of Prince Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development in Surin Province.
At 8.45, Her Royal Highness proceeded to observe the operation progress of the Royally-granted Jasmine Rice 105 Production Project “Friends for Friends” of the Chaipattana Foundation. On this occasion, Her Royal Highness graciously had a conversation with the rice production group and gave encouragement to the people who participated in the 105 jasmine rice production group “Friends for Friends” at Nong Ha, Koh Kaew and Nong Phai Lorm Districts, to have strong determination, patience and perseverance in producing good quality of rice. The members of the Project presented calves and buffaloes born from the royally-granted breeding stock to Her Royal Highness for further distribution to the farmers.
At 11.00, Her Royal Highness proceeded to Prince Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development in Surin Province to observe the operation of 105 jasmine rice production group “Friends for Friends”. This year, 1,332,825 kilograms of 105 jasmine rice from Prince Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development in Surin Province was given to 12,238 people affected by drought and flooding in Surin, Maha Sarakham, Amnat Chareon, Buriram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Yasothon and Sisaket Provinces. The affected area covers an area of 88,855 rai (35,542 acres). As for the pond that was given to members of the 105 Jasmine Rice Production Group, the Chaipattana Foundation has installed a water level measuring device made of bamboo in the pond. The water lever data has been collected since March 2020. The local people, then, are able to manage the water precisely and plan how to use water for rice cultivation adequately. Accordingly, the local farmers can grow crops in their fields during the dry season, and meanwhile having additional income from selling the produce from farm with enough water left in the pond for growing rice in the next season.
In addition, the Chaipattana Foundation has created online media cartoon “Chan Ka Phak : Uncle Sumet’s Chili” for disseminating the story of plant breeding selection to general public. Her Royal Highness also viewed the cartoon and uploaded it to the website of the Chaipattana Foundation. After that, Her Royal Highness observed the reed mat handicrafts produced by the people in Ban Nong Phai, Rangaeng Sub-district, Sikhoraphum District, Surin Province.The PatPat of the Chaipattana Foundation, in cooperation with Textile Design, Faculty of Architecture, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, has been developing the reed mat products along with the process in dyeing, decorating and designing with an objective to create the value of handicraft products, while maintaining its original characteristics.
By this, Her Royal Highness graciously granted awards to 45 farmers of 105 Jasmine Rice Production Group “Friends for Friends” and had a conversation with 9 royally-granted rice production groups in Surin, Buriram and Sisaket, encouraging them to have strong determination, patience and perseverance in producing good quality of rice for further distributing to the affected people from natural disasters.
