Having observed with his own eyes the worrisome state of the mountainous watershed areas in the North during his private visit then, His Majesty the King has thus in the year 1969 initiated and provided his personal fund to set up the Royal Project, intended as the highland agricultural development center, to turn hill-tribes people from opium poppy growing to temperate climate fruit-trees and flowering plants, and as a learining center to provide knowledge in various aspects to hill-tribes people to improve their livelihood, as well as the conservation of watershed areas, which relates to the well-being of everyone in the country, with H.S.H Prince Bhisatej Rajani appointed as the Project Director.
At present, the Royal Project research and development and promoting works continued uninterrupted. Goals have been largely achieved, with the elimination of opium poppy fields through crop substitution, and reduction of forest encroachment, making local residents much better off.