Coffee is among the significant cash crops that the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej used to fight against Thailand's poverty and narcotics trade. The story began from a few coffee plants he found in a remote village on Doi Inthanon.
In a Karen village of Ban Nong Lom, on Doi Inthanon of Chiang Mai, there is a coffee tree surrounded by a wooden fence. It is similar to thousands of other coffee trees grown there. But this shrub had been proudly nourished by Payo Taro, a former village headman, for decades.
During the 70s, opium farming caused wide deforestation on mountains in the North. Hilltribe people in the region at that time grew rice and opium. Rice was grown for family consumption while opium was the main source of income.
In 1974, King Bhumibol trekked through the jungle for 6km to see a few Arabica coffee trees grown at Ban Nong Lom. Payo Taro, who could speak a bit of Thai, showed him the shrubs and offered coffee beans.
It is unclear how these coffee trees were brought to Doi Inthanon. Moreover, the trek was long, but King Bhumibol insisted that the trip was worthwhile as the coffee shrubs were evidence that the crop could survive in Thailand and that coffee farming might be possible.
Both coffee and opium can grow well in highland areas. The abundant forest on Doi Inthanon is the perfect place for coffee as the shrub prefers shade rather than bright sunlight.
This coffee tree at Ban Nong Lom was visited by King Bhumibol, first in 1974 and then many times later. According to the Royal Project, there were more than 20 coffee plants found in the village at that time. Peerawat Jariyasombat
King Bhumibol suggested how the Payo and Karen villagers could take good care of the trees. He asked Payo as well as Karen villagers to grow more coffee trees as a new source of income, hoping the coffee plantations would replace opium plantations. The king trekked to Ban Nong Lom many times to see the development of his coffee scheme.
After that, the Royal Project Foundation, the king's project to improve the hilltribes' quality of life, started promoting coffee plantations in the North. Coffee seeds were distributed to over 10 Karen villages on Doi Inthanon.
Karen people on Doi Inthanon stopped opium farming and turned to coffee as well as temperate-climate fruits. Today, Ban Nong Lom has thousands of coffee shrubs under the shade of big trees. Coffee has become a major source of income for the villagers.
Ban Mae Klang Luang, another Karen village a short drive from Ban Nong Lom, is a good example of social development driven by coffee beans.
Steps from the beautiful terraced rice paddies of Mae Klang Luang village, visitors get a rich coffee aroma rising from an old hut when Somsak Sriphumthong roasts his Arabica coffee. Each month, Somsak sells more than 500kg of organic Arabica coffee under his Tho-bibe coffee brand. Of course, all coffee trees are grown from seeds provided by Doi Inthanon Royal Project.
"I buy raw coffee beans from Karen farmers after making sure that they treat their coffee trees properly -- that they are grown in fertile soil and under the shade of trees, with no use of chemicals. Now, besides me, many coffee companies want to buy coffee beans from Mae Klang Luang," Somsak explains.
His coffee business has created jobs for numerous Karen people. Moreover, with support from the Royal Project, former opium growers have filled their plantations with fruits, flowers, coffee and vegetables.
Tourism on Doi Inthanon has attracted more visitors and coffee buyers. Income from coffee and tourism has gradually improved the Karen people's living standards.
Huay Hom Coffee in Mae Hong Son province has taken further steps. With technical support from the Mae La Noi Royal Project, the small village of Huai Hom produces chemical-free coffee beans for overseas markets, particularly coffee chain Starbucks, which has been buying beans from the village since 2002.
Annually, the village generates some 5 million baht from 17 tonnes of coffee production. Higher incomes from coffee have changed the lives of the Karen in Huai Hom.
With the vision provided by King Bhumibol, coffee shrubs found in a remote village hidden in a peaceful corner of Doi Inthanon improved the living quality of his people.
Presently, the Royal Project Foundation supports coffee farming through its 24 centres, covering over 10,000 rai and creating more than 2,600 jobs in the North. It produces more than 500 tonnes of Arabica coffee beans which meet international standards.
A Karen lady shows her coffee shrubs while leading the way to the shrub which was visited by King Bhumibol. Ban Nong Lom today houses thousands of Arabica coffee trees growing under the shade of the forest. Besides coffee beans, Karen villagers here supply vegetables and fruits to the Royal Project. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Somsak Sriphumthong checking his coffee shrubs. According to him, coffee seeds from Brazil were brought to Doi Inthanon by a prince of Chiang Mai long before King Bhumibol's visit. Foreign missionaries who lived in Chom Thong district, at the foot of Doi Inthanon, taught local people to roast and drink coffee, but it was not appreciated at that time. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Somsak Sriphumthong checking his coffee shrubs. According to him, coffee seeds from Brazil were brought to Doi Inthanon by a prince of Chiang Mai long before King Bhumibol's visit. Foreign missionaries who lived in Chom Thong district, at the foot of Doi Inthanon, taught local people to roast and drink coffee, but it was not appreciated at that time. Peerawat Jariyasombat
The Karen village in Mae Klang Luang on Doi Inthanon is well known for its scenic terraced rice paddies that occupy a small valley. It has become an emerging tourist attraction after serving as a film location for local movies and series. Tourists can enjoy trekking to the waterfall as well as visiting hilltribe plantations that serve the Royal Project.
At Ban Huai Hom, a Karen worker washes organic coffee beans. The village roasts its own coffee beans and sells them under the Huay Hom brand. Huay Hom Coffee is certified as a 4-star One Tambon One Product and won the Thailand Quality Coffee Award in 2014. Photo: Karnjana Karnjanatawe
Situated over 1,000m above sea level, Huai Hom is a good place for growing coffee and rearing sheep. The idea to grow coffee and farm sheep was brought to the remote village of Mae Hong Son in 1957 by a group of missionaries. King Bhumibol visited the village in 1970 and encouraged villagers to grow coffee as a substitute for opium farming. Photo: Karnjana Karnjanatawe
