Roi Jai Rak Project

Basic Information

Time frame

2018 – 2029

Location

Huay Muang Ngam River valley covering 4 villages: Ban Muang Ngam Neua, Ban Huay San, Ban Hua Muang Ngam and Ban Muang Ngam Tai as well as 20 villages in Tha Ton Subdistrict, Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai Province

Area: 37,119 rai (5,939 hectares)

Beneficiaries

1,067 households/4,297 people

Overview

MFLF was approached by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) to partner in a narcotics mitigation project by providing opportunities and alternatives for a legitimate livelihood to the communities of the Huay San and Huay Muang Ngam river basins, with emphasis on addressing poverty, disparity and lack of opportunity as the root of the problems.

This was done through various economy boosting activities to create a stable income for the community, incentivize them to conduct legitimate livelihoods, with the long-term goal being to create a model sustainable narcotics mitigation program in an urban environment.

People

2,684 villagers

(62% of total in the project area)

benefited from the water distribution system for use and consumption, providing access to water all year round.

Additional

3,554 rai

(569 hectares) – 25% of total agricultural area in the project

of farmland gained access to water, benefiting 1,123 farmers.

30%

increase in lowland rice yield and

12%

in upland rice yield

Agricultural promotion for pumpkin and chrysanthemum crops created a income of

1,585,582 baht

(US$50,826),

while garden vegetable plots helped reduce household expenses under the concept “Plant everything you eat; eat everything you plant”.

Partnership with CP Starlanes Co Ltd to provide marketing channels and knowledge to help Ban Huay San fruit enterprise members to export their produce and earn an income of

804,225 baht

(US$25,780).

The livestock fund provided food and household asset security worth

1,456,070 baht.

In terms of handicrafts promotion, women groups of Ban Huay San manufactured products for the DoiTung brand, earning an income of

1,005,241 baht

(US$46,675).

The community market, part of the food processing and tourism business units, created an income of

3,664,652 baht

(US$117,472).

The Montessori method of teaching for kindergarten and primary school children is promoted at six schools and child development centers within the project area, with

761 pupils

benefiting from this effort.

Partnership with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and local government offices to carry out volunteer activities with

146

drug addicts who volunteered to enter the rehabilitation program,

and to provide skills training and seed money to set up legitimate businesses, and immunity against the risk of relapse. Only

12%

were tempted to revert to drugs.

Village labor was recruited to support project activities, creating an income for

150 villagers,

totaling

1,240,000 baht per month.

(US$39,749)