Many women have been made widows because of unrest in the southern border provinces. As a consequence, they have also faced difficulties in making a living for themselves and their families. A sufficiency economy village and model farm, called Rotan Batu, was established in Narathiwat Province to help widowed women and empower them. 

Rotan Batu was established in Kaluwo Subdistrict, Mueang District, at the initiative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, who, during her visit to Narathiwat in 2004, had learned about the hardships of local people affected by unrest in the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat. Her Majesty wanted to provide assistance for the families of affected officials and villagers, so that they would be able to stand on their own feet.

The royally sponsored project was launched in September 2004, eight months after acts of violence in Narathiwat took place. Many local women since then have lost their husbands in the unrest and found it difficult to earn a living for themselves and their dependents.

Concerned for the victims of violence and for families that have lost their main wage earners to the southern conflict, Her Majesty the Queen Mother donated 20 million baht from her personal fund to buy a vacant plot of land to carry out the project, which is divided into two parts, namely the Sufficiency Economy village and the model farm.

On 15 October 2004, during her stay at Daksin Palace in Narathiwat, Her Majesty, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, officially opened the Rotan Batu Sufficiency Economy Village and Model Farm.

In her speech to well-wishers on the eve of her birthday on 11 August 2005, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit explained that she took the money she was given for charity purposes on the occasion of her 72nd birthday to buy a plot of land to establish the village. Her Majesty asked the local military unit and other government agencies to help build houses for both Buddhist and Muslim Thais, who had lost the head of their family, to live in and make a living.

Rotan Batu village, which was formerly referred to as the “widows' village,” is open to all families that have become victims of violence, regardless of race or religion. Each household will plant crops and raise livestock and fish for their own food and for sale to earn an income. The village has been developed based on the concept of Sufficiency Economy, which aims at building small, reliable, economic units self-sufficient in terms of food and other basic needs. Agriculture officials have also given advice to local residents in this village on proper cultivation and animal husbandry.

The model farm has also created a source of employment and income generation, as produce will be sold to nearby towns. It is divided into sections for four activities, namely aquaculture, livestock development, rice farming, and vegetable growing.

The project has played a part in empowering local women and giving hope to them. Many of them said that they used to feel hopeless, but their lives have been transformed because of the benevolence of Her Majesty the Queen Mother. By living together and helping one another, they have lessened their feeling of dissatisfaction and developed a deeper sense of unity and solidarity.