Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Follows Up on the Tea Oil Tree Cultivation Study and Development Project in Puna, Chiang Rai Province

On 17 June 2025, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously proceeded to follow up on the progress of the Tea Oil Tree Cultivation Study and Development Project in Mae Fa Luang District, Chiang Rai Province. On this occasion, Mr. Danucha Sintawanon, Member and Deputy Secretary-General of the Chaipattana Foundation, was present to receive Her Royal Highness.

The Chaipattana Foundation, in collaboration with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, has been implementing this project in accordance with the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness since 2004. The project aims to study and trial the cultivation of Camellia oleifera tea oil trees imported from China in the villages of Pang Mahan and Puna, Mae Fa Luang District, Chiang Rai Province, as a means to restore degraded forest areas and create sustainable income for local communities.

The project promotes community participation in planting, nurturing, and harvesting tea oil seeds, enabling villagers to earn a stable livelihood. It has proven successful in rehabilitating forest land, while the harvested tea seeds can be processed into high-quality edible oil. Local hill tribe villagers sell the seeds for processing into “Camellia Seed Oil” at Camellia Seed Oil and Other Plant Oil Product Research and Development Center in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province.