The Royal Project Foundation is scheduled to organize a fair in honor of His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty’s sixth-cycle (72nd) birthday anniversary and in commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the Royal Project.

The fair, known as “Royal Project 55,” will be held from 1 to 13 August 2024 at the CentralWorld shopping complex in Bangkok, under the theme “Love for the Earth.”

The theme signifies love and care bestowed to Thai people by His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Family. It is also meant to show gratitude to His Majesty by the Thai people in celebration of His Majesty the King’s sixth-cycle birthday, 28 July 2024.

Apart from a wide variety of products from the Royal Project, especially organic fresh fruits and vegetables produced by hilltribe villagers, the fair will also include food products from participating organizations in this event, such as the National Food Institute, Kasetsart University, and the Department of Livestock Development.

It will also feature an exhibition in honor of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua (RAMA X), cultural performances, demonstrations of food preparation, seminars, and workshops. New products under the Royal Project will be launched, as well. 

The Royal Project came into being at the initiative of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great (Rama IX) in 1969, when the King visited hilltribe villagers on Doi Pui, Chiang Mai province, and talked to them to gather first-hand information. At that time, tribal people living in the highlands had become a problem to the Government, partly because of their destructive slash-and-burn technique of clearing land, as well as their traditional cultivation of opium poppies.

King Rama IX intended to help them grow useful crops that would give a higher income than growing opium, so that they would switch from opium cultivation to other crops. That was how the Royal Project was launched. It involves the growing of a wide variety of cash crops, especially temperate-zone plants. The project was cited as a scheme to successfully eradicate opium poppy cultivation through positive measures.