“Vetiver Grass” Innovation to Handle Global Changes: Chula Drafts Master Plan on Using Vetiver Grass for Soil and Water Conservation

Chulalongkorn University’s Social Research Institute, as assigned by the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board (ORDPB), was to draft the 7^th Master Plan on Development and Promotion of the Utilization of Vetiver Grass according to the Royal Initiative (B.E. 2566-2570), with an emphasis on using vetiver grass as a “social innovation” to support communities in handling social, environmental, and economic changes, as well as achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Master Plan includes 3 key strategies, under the name “continue, maintain, and expand,” and 16 measures.  

The seminar on the 7^th Master Plan on Development and Promotion of the Utilization of Vetiver Grass according to the Royal Initiative (B.E. 2566-2570)” was held on the 20^th floor of Chamchuri 10 Building, Chulalongkorn University, and was presided over by Mr. Jaranthada Karnasuta, Privy Councilor. The Master Plan aims to provide the framework for such development and promotion of the utilization of vetiver grass in related sectors between 2023 and 2027. 

On the significance of vetiver grass, Mr. Jaranthada Karnasuta, Privy Councilor, stated that “His Majesty King Rama IX studied vetiver grass himself for the purpose of soil and water conservation. One special quality of vetiver grass is its many interlocking roots that can hold the soil and prevent it from erosion. This has become one of the royal projects that has helped the hill tribe people and their livelihood. In addition, the project was expanded to include research for more ways of capitalizing from vetiver grass, including using durable vetiver grass leaves in wickerwork and making medicines with vetiver grass.”  

The ORDPB was established to support His Majesty the King’s royal projects during the reign of King Rama IX and continues to the present reign. H.M. King Rama X is determined to continue, maintain, and expand King Rama IX’s royal projects, especially vetiver grass, which is useful for soil and water conservation and for the development of areas with potholes, hills, and slopes into water reservoirs for agriculture. 

Asst. Prof. Dr. Unruan Leknoi from the Social Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, explained that Chulalongkorn University was assigned by ORDPB to draft the 7th Master Plan on Development and Promotion of the Utilization of Vetiver Grass according to the Royal Initiative (B.E. 2566-2570), with the duration of 1 year. The focus is on the conservation of soil and water in offensive, defensive, restorative, and preventive manners. The Master Plan aims to correspond with the 3 set strategies, consisting of continuing the culture of using vetiver for soil and water conservation, maintaining the dissemination and creation of knowledge on vetiver grass to generate innovation for society, thereby encouraging sectors to achieve sustainable development, and expanding community, village, and national networks to connect with vetiver grass networks around the world.  

Prof. Dr. Suched Likitlersuang, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, member of the drafting team, spoke of the application of engineering knowledge in developing vetiver grass that previous research by the Faculty of Engineering has involved the utilization of vetiver grass to help slow down water and prevent landslides and strengthening of the roots by using numerical analysis, laboratory data collection and monitoring of field work. The present research being conducted by the Faculty of Engineering and the Social Research Institute for the Master Plan involves 2 sciences with vetiver grass as the common goal, which will yield tremendous results in applying academic work to serve society in a practical way.  

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