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DRIED FLOWERS
OF THE ROYAL PROJECT
Story by Tuangporn
Pictures by Nivet Jiralertpongchai


"All kinds of plants and trees have their intrinsic values, from humble flowers of grass that grows on the ground to eucalyptuses that reach out to the sky. Even weeds like gramineae, or hyacinth, or wild acadia are useful. If we use our brains, we can always find a way in which these plants can be utilized".
(From an article written by Associate Professor M.L. Charuphant Thongtham).

Royal Projects are projects to which His Majesty the King has donated his personal money for their research work. The aim is to encourage cash crop cultivation among the hilltribes of the north in replacement of opium growing, which has always caused a great deal of problems for the government.
All of these projects have been successful from the start. One of the projects which has been carried out continuoudly until the present, and whose products have been well recorganized for their quality, is the dried flowers project.
The Dried Flowers Royal Project was launched in 1978. Initail research was carried out by a team of researchers from the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, led by Associate Professor M.L. Charuphant Thongtham. The project was given a research grant from the United States and was accepted under royal patronage. From the start, the program has developed steadily, and in 1985 its products were exported to other countries. The first lot, dried ferns, were sent to Taiwan. The volume of export continues to increase and the international markets at present include the United Arab Emirates, England, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan and France.
Dried Flowers under the Royal Project are selected from high quality flowers rarely found in produces of other companies. The objective of the project is to encourage the hilltribes to grow flowering plants on the mountains where once only opium poppies blossomed. Flowers like Chamomile prosper on Doi Ang Khang, while the 'Mong' tribe in Ban Khun Klang can grow long-stemmed 'Paper Flowers' like professionals.
The most important and unique aspect of this Royal Project is the introduction of this vocation to other underprivileged poor in other regions, without keeping it for the hilltribes only. Associate Professor M.L. Charuphant Thongtham disclosed that, "We are introducing this Dried Flowers Royal Project to villagers in the northeast and other drought stricken areas in the central region. The villagers can bring dried flowers from their fields and sell them to us for supplementary income. We offer good prices for their raw materials, because we want to convert the money received from abroad to farmers. This is the policy of the production and marketing departments. These flowers are easy to plant and grow well on just rain water. There is no need for chemical fertilizers or insecticides, because they are wild plants that are easy to grow."
The Dried Flowers Royal Project is based on the concept of conservation, which plays a significant role in policy setting and in the idea to create markets for villagers who live in the forests without using timber from the forests. It is aimed at improving the living condition of the local people without destroying the environment. Farmers are made to be appreciative of the forests, trees, leaves, that do exist in nature. They see the benefits of the inexhaustible nature resources of the forests and realize that flowers, fruit, trees, for shrubs, whatever they are, when processed into other forms, can be ever more valuable.
The continued success of this Royal Project is the result of hard work. But as in any work situations, problems are inevitable. To this, Associate Professor M.L. Charuphant Thongtham explained that, "The major problem that we encountered is about the place of work, not the growing process. The land used for our factory is limited in area, so we cannot expand to the fukk extent. The project does not have the 'plant' in a serious sense as do other companies, but we can still export our products, with full effort and co-operation fromeveryone. We don't have any problem finding the markets, but because of this shortcoming, we are reluctant to take up sizable orders, for fear that we will not be able to supply the goods in time".
It is apparent that the Dried Flower Project has generated substantial income for villagers, hilltribes, and farmers, who lack access to opportunities. It also implants upon them the love and appreciation of the forests. They realize that with their concerted effort to protect the forest, the forest will remain fertile and continue to be their source of income forever.
Dried Flowers from the Royal Project are available at Kasetsart University, Tel. (66 2) 579-1175 and 579-3574, the Royal Projects Office in Chiang Mai, and at Naraibhan Handicraft Center. Interested parties may also contact Associate Professor M.L. Charuphant Thongtham directly at the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Tel. (66 2) 579-1951.
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DRIED FLOWERS OF THE ROYAL PROJECT, KINNAREE, Thai Airways International Domestic Inflight Magazine, December 1992, P. 38 - 44.