The master plan for the second phase of the project won Cabinet approval on 2 October 2012 following a proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
The second phase, scheduled for
2013-2016, comes after the first phase, carried out from 2008 to 2011, was
completed. The Cabinet was told that, although the first phase was successful
to a certain extent, many rural remote villages and communities still faced
water shortages during the dry season.
As a consequence, local farmers were
unable to produce sufficient rice for consumption. The project has also faced
some constraints, since a number of villagers in target areas have low
education and are not able to read Thai. For this reason, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperatives deemed it necessary to continue the project in the
second phase to cope with the constraints and to achieve the set target for
sustainable development.
In the second phase, human development
will be carried out for people living in river basins to achieve balanced
development and conservation, in accordance with His Majesty the King’s
initiatives. Local communities will be empowered through learning promotion and
occupational development. The second phase of the project also focuses on
natural resource and environmental management in a holistic manner. Food
security will be given a major boost, and local people will be provided with
greater access to government services and more opportunities to make use of
natural resources.
Major strategies include natural
resource and environmental development and conservation, occupational
development to improve local people’s living conditions, and development of
their quality of life.
The private sector, local
organizations, and civil society will play a greater role in joining the
Government to carry out the project. All relevant agencies have been urged to
work out jointly a four-year action plan, 2013-2016, and a yearly action plan
for effective water conservation.
Recognized as the Mother of the Land,
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit is widely appreciated for her great contribution to
the conservation of natural resources, especially forests. Sharing His Majesty
the King’s concern over the destruction of the natural environment, she has
helped ease the deforestation problem. Apart from several awards, Her Majesty
was presented with a certificate by the World Wildlife Fund, proclaiming her as
one of the world’s leading conservationists.
(thailand.prd.go.th)
