In 1969 (year 2512 according to the Buddhist calendar), the King of Thailand instigated a program for the agricultural development of northern Thailand, in the hope that the poppy could be replaced by other cash crops. This could effectively kill two birds with one stone--the eradication of poverty, and the elimination of dope peddling.
於是泰王在西元一九六九年（佛曆二五一二年）擬定「泰北山地農業開發計畫」，希望能以高經濟作物替代罌粟，既可消滅貧窮，又可達到肅毒的目的。