Project weans villagers off illegal drug trade

The project also acts as a communications bridge between local farmers and CP Starlanes Co on the purchase of fruit. The company supports farmers by providing facilities and also teaches them quality control methods.

A Huay San villager, who wished to be identified only as Somboon, used to be involved with drug trafficking, but now owns a mango orchard. "In the past, each family that grew fruit dealt with middlemen, and were vulnerable to price fluctuations," he said.

Thanks to the project, Somboon learned to grow high-quality fruit for export, which increased villagers' incomes. Moreover, planting fruit on a large scale with the support of a big company meant the villagers were less likely to return to drugs to earn a living.

"The mangoes we grow are mainly exported to Japan and South Korea, which have very strict standards for pesticide residue. As a result of the professional guidance we receive, our mango prices are tipped to rise from 20 baht to 60 baht per kilogram, which is very encouraging," he said.

The Roi Jai Rak Project's success has also attracted attention from countries close to Thailand geographically. For example, in April, a delegation of more than 20 members from Yunnan Police College in Southwest China traveled to Thailand to study the project.

Several towns and cities in China, which borders Myanmar and Laos, are only 100 kilometers from the Golden Triangle, which has been a major source of drugs in China since the 1990s.

In recent years, China has organized joint anti-drug operations with countries in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin.

Exchanges and studies covering a wide range of topics, such as alternate planting methods and anti-drug education, have also been conducted between China, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos to improve regional cooperation in the fight against drug dealing.

During the study tour, members of the Chinese delegation were impressed by the far-reaching changes made to villages in the project area.