Ban Yongkha Project (Mae Fah Luang Foundation link)

In the late of 2001, Thailand has committed a 20-million Baht contribution on drug-related technical cooperation for Myanmar. The two countries subsequently agreed to use the mentioned budget as a preliminary input for furthering Thai-Myanmar cooperation on drug replacement and infrastructure development in a pilot village, southern Shan State nearby Thai border. The project is aimed to tackle the issue of poverty by providing series of alternative drug replacement programmes for some selective 3,000 villagers. As a result, it will be a pilot project for the rest of the region that the alternative development programmes would be the most feasible approach in changing their ways of living on narcotic crops and other drug-related activities. Moreover, it will foster all local people by means of drug-free communities with sustainable development.

In January 2002, the Thai and Myanmar Government agreed to implement the stated project in the selected village, namely, Ban Yongkha. It is 60 kilometers away from the west of Tachilek Town, southern Shan State, Myanmar, next to Chiang Rai Province, Thailand.

In the early of 2002, the project has been initially implementing by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, the most accomplished non-governmental organization under the Royal Patronage on alternative crop replacement programmes in Thailand. Fieldwork has been started with the local people since late 2002. They are currently adopting a comprehensive development approach with an emphasis on basic infrastructure, education and health, and sustainable agricultural (crop substitution programme) development. This comprehensive approaches were the most significant factors of the Foundation's success in getting people in drug producing areas in northern Thailand to gradually change their way of life in the past decades. Eventually, there is a considerable progress with close and cordial working relationship among Thai and Myanmar officials as well as local people in the area.

However, though small pilot project certainly has its own advantages, it will need support from the international community in the areas such as health and technical know-how. Ban Yongkha project will initially involve a preliminary estimated cost of 135 million baht (3.37 million US$). The first 20 million baht, funded by the Thai Government, will be used for preparation for crops, construction of a school and a health centre, and development of some basic infrastructure such as sanitary and water system. The remaining 115 million baht, which needs further funding from donor countries, will be used for the construction of road, electricity and irrigation system.

Crop Substitution Programme
Produce from Ban Yongkha crop substitution programme will be market-driven. Based on extensive study and research, the Foundation has decided to introduce three economic-based crops as short, medium, and long term substitution as follows:

1. Short-term: Soybean which, after 1st year of cultivation, should generate an annual income of around 6,750 baht (170 US$) per rai (0.4 acres) per family;
2. Medium-term: considered crop (s) will yield after 3-5 years of cultivation. Medium-term crops considered are Sriprachin Bamboo, Cotton, Hemp and Vanilla;
3. Long-term: considered crop (s) will yield after 5-9 years of cultivation. Long-term crop considered is Macadamia.

Thailand could provide its market access as well as buyers for most of the aforementioned produce as the country imports a large quantity of the items annually, soybean in particular. Currently, the Thai Government has already offered widened access to its market and lowered tariff scheme for certain agricultural produce from Myanmar.

Foreign Assistance
In pursuance of the aforesaid objective, Ban Yongkha project needs a strong foundation for it to move forward. As already mentioned, the village itself is relatively new and lacks basic needs and necessary infrastructure to support daily life, let alone the crop substitution programme. Urgent issues include: providing healthcare facilities to Ban Yongkha villagers; reducing and preventing diseases among people displaced from the eastern part of Shan State; and assisting the villagers in cultivation of a short-term economic crop, i.e. soybean. With the overall objective of providing humanitarian assistance and reducing poverty among the local people of Myanmar, immediate assistance is thus required from the international community to help improve the condition of healthcare and support short-term crop development.

I. Healthcare
Findings: Mae Fah Luang Foundation has organised a series of field trips for its medical team to help evaluate the healthcare situation in the village. Initial study found that healthcare system in the village is in a critical condition. Houses are not well ventilated thus easily for diseases to spread within the family. There are no mosquito net to prevent mosquitoes and insects. Many of the population suffer from scabies and ear infections. At present, it is unclear as to the percentage of the population who suffers from those diseases. There are cases of malaria, diarrhea and tuberculosis.

Ban Yongkha hospital has a limited supply of pills, mostly from Thailand (Health Department issued) and China, which include, among others, pain killers and antibiotics. However, Ban Yongkha hospital seriously lacks quantity of pills and, alarmingly, sterilization is not practiced.

The most common cause of disease in Ban Yongkha is malaria. From the interview, the Foundation's medical team described that more than 50% (15 out of 25 people) who came for treatment suffered from malaria. It is also suspected that malaria is accounted for approximately 5% of the population. There is no preventive method to counter the disease. Local paramedics do not have any detection equipment thus the treatment is rarely successful. Pills are also scarce. Immediate response from health agencies therefore is very crucial.

There are 2 paramedics stationed at Ban Yongkha. Paramedics are capable of diagnosing some diseases, determining the treatments and doing simple emergency room procedures. While paramedics concentrate on treatment, there are no plans for preventive medicine or educational programme.

Implementation Plan: A 16-bed health centre is currently under construction as part of the aforesaid 20 million baht technical cooperation funded by the Thai Government. The centre requires approximately 11-13 well-trained personnel including paramedics, medical assistants, malaria specialist, dentist, nurses, and staff. In this regard, Mae Fah Luang Foundation will dispatch Thai doctors and paramedics to visit all villages within the project area. Appropriate treatment, prevention and health education will be given to the villagers, for instances: information on the new health centre (its facilities, types of treatment given, operating hours, etc); awareness as well as prevention (vaccines) of transmitted diseases (malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, etc); and awareness of healthier living condition (sanitation, washing, and cleaning).

Assistance Requirements (below are lists of material and personnel required in the short-term):

1. Medical supplies:

• Malaria pills, i.e. Choroquin Phosphate (for PV and PM strain), Mephaquin (for PF strain) and Primaquin (for all type)
• Detection equipment for tuberculosis diagnosis
• Sterilized equipment and basic medical supplies (i.v., disposable needles, etc)
• Dental chairs and equipment

• Malaria specialist
• Tuberculosis specialist
• Dentist

• Sanitation system
• Clean water supply
• Electricity (generators, fuel cells, solar panels)

II. Short-term Crop Development
Soybean: According to the information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, soybean, soya residue, cottons and wool are the top imported agricultural produces into Thailand from 1998 - 2001. Hence these crops, especially soybean, should be considered as economic-based crops which already have a strong market demand in Thailand.

Source: Office of the Agricultural Economics, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Note: Partially Selected Data

Soybean has been an important economic crop in Thailand. The Thai Government has promoted the domestic cultivation of soybean due to huge demand in the country. In 1990, the Thai Government lifted restrictions and surcharges for importing soya residue. Since then, the price and domestic supply has significantly declined, but the domestic demand is still on the rise with an estimation of 200,000 tons annually.

The most common type of soybean grown in the northern part of Thailand is Chiang Mai 60. Cold climate is ideal for soybean as it reduces damage caused by insects and supports higher yield. Preliminary assessment shows that Ban Yongkha area has all necessary requirements, climate, landscape and the quality of soil in particular, for growing such crop. A small irrigation system, originally designated for rice cultivation, is also under construction and would soon be ready to support the soybean cultivation.

Implementation Plan: Soybean can be planted on plain ground after rice harvesting. Mae Fah Luang Foundation will provide seeds and supplies as well as close consultation by agricultural technicians to the participating farmers. The crop can be grown in three seasons: after rice harvesting (December - January); during rainy season (April - June); and towards the end of rainy season (August - September).

In this connection, the Mae Fah Luang Foundation has reserved 10 tons of soybean seeds for the cultivation in Ban Yongkha village. Hence, a “Seed Bank” concept will be used in the project area. The reserved seeds will be distributed among participating farmers without any charges. The farmers are required to put their own labour together with assistance from the Foundation. Upon harvesting, the “borrowed” 10 tons of seeds will be returned to the Foundation for the next groups of farmers. Produce from the cultivation will be sold under the Foundation's marketing strategy.

Marketing Strategy: A Thai selling agent shall be appointed as intermediate buyer for soybean crops. Pricing is guaranteed. Mae Fah Luang Foundation can leverage its credentials to seek assistance from some designated buyers, i.e. cooking oil companies, cattle feed producers, and consumer goods producers.

Assistance Requirements:
1. Soybean cultivation:
    - Seeds and supplies, i.e. pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, etc
    - Agricultural machinery
    - Soybean specialist
2. Infrastructure
    - Electricity
3. Marketing and sales (if possible)
    - Market access