The Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage yesterday launched the "Kla Dee" project, which aims to help one million flood-affected people enjoy sustainable lives through affordable garden vegetables.
The foundation, which operates on His Majesty the King and the late Princess Srinagarindra's self sufficiency philosophy, started to examine flood affected areas in Nahon Sawan, Pitsanulok and Uthai Thani on October 12.
On October 21, it planted the first seedlings at the Provincial Administration Organisation in Uthai Thani province as well as at Lop Buri Agricultural and Technology College and the Royal Thai Airforce II site, also in Lopburi province.
The seedlings are chilli, eggplant, aubergine, holy basil or sweet basil, yardlong bean, pumpkin, water spinach, Chinese cabbage and chaom.
MR Disanadda Disakul, the foundation's secretary general, notes that because floodwaters have destroyed garden vegetables, these have become scarce in the market or else expensive.
"Our 120day project, will help support flood victims to grow and to consume garden vegetables on a sustainable basis and this will reduce their expenses by as much as Bt600 per person or around Bt600 million in total. One they have enough for themselves, they could generate income from the additional crop.
We estimate they could earn about Bt1,066 per person. Our seedlings will shorten the period for growing these plants.
Above all, we hope that after the floods recede, the community networks will be sufficiently strong so they can continue to improve their quality of living."
The foundation is dividing the distribution into three steps: "ready to eat", "ready to grow", and "ready to breed".
The budget for the Kla Dee project is around Bt65 million and Ikea, the leading furniture brand from Sweden, has already donated Bt20 million towards the cost.
Members of the public who would like to participate are invited to donate Bt250 per set through Siam Commercial Bank, Ayudhaya Bank, Kasikorn Bank, and Krung Thai Bank to Mae Fah Luang Foundation - Kla Dee project account.
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