Opening Ceremony of the Mushroom Cultivation Project
1. On 28 January 2026, His Excellency Mr. Obaid Saeed Obaid Bin Taresh Al Dhaheri, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Thailand, presided over the opening ceremony of the Mushroom Farm Project. The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Thailand provided construction funding of 2,849,900 Baht to support comprehensive skills development and vocational training for persons with intellectual disabilities.
Those present at the ceremony included Mrs. Saisom Wongsasulak, President of the Foundation for the Welfare of the Mentally Retarded of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen; Ms. Panisara Kanchanajitra, Deputy Governor of Nonthaburi Province; Ms. Sunee Srisangtrakul, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security; and Mrs. Kanya Chaiseth, President of Punyakarn Vocational Training Center. They were joined by the Foundation’s executive committee and the Parents and Teachers Association in welcoming guests and participating in the ceremony.
The event was held at Punyakarn Vocational Training Center, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province.
2. The mushroom farm project comprises two buildings for the production and storage of mushroom spawn, and two mushroom cultivation houses, along with equipment for producing mushroom substrate blocks, a refrigeration unit for preserving harvested produce before distribution, and materials for training in the production of 20,000 mushroom substrate blocks.
This project is considered sustainable, with an estimated lifespan of over 20 years. Each cultivation house can store up to 3,000 ready-to-cultivate mushroom blocks, and the project can produce approximately 15,000-16,000 kilograms of fresh mushrooms within four months.
The project provides fresh food to more than 250 students and teachers at the Punyakorn Vocational Training Center, allowing them to enjoy a variety of meals. The mushroom blocks produced are also sufficient for distribution to all 12 centers under the Foundation for the Intellectually Disabled of Thailand, enabling individuals with intellectual disabilities to develop skills, improve their abilities, and independently care for and harvest the produce. The project reduces costs and generates income from the sale of fresh mushrooms and ready-to-cultivate mushroom blocks, while also serving as a training resource for parents and the general public.
3. The Punyakan Vocational Training Center is an agency under the Foundation for Assisting the Intellectually Disabled in Thailand, under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. It was established on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th birthday celebration on December 5, 1987. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit bestowed the name "Punyakan" upon the center.
The Punyakarn Vocational Training Center is an organization under the Foundation for the Welfare of Intellectually Disabled Persons of Thailand, under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. It was established on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th birthday celebration on December 5, 1987. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit bestowed the name "Punyakarn" upon the center. The center officially opened on March 8, 1990, with General Prem Tinsulanonda, former Privy Council President and statesman, presiding over the opening ceremony.
The center aims to provide opportunities for intellectually disabled individuals with moderate disabilities, aged 15 and above, to rehabilitate and develop skills, enabling them to find employment, earn income, live independently, and reduce the burden on their families and society.
Currently, the center serves 94 students, both male and female. The center houses 55 boarding students and 39 day students, providing services to individuals with disabilities classified as types 5, 6, and 7. Students are divided into three groups: 40 students with general disabilities, 15 students in a pre-employment preparation group, and 40 students employed under Articles 33 and 35 of the Act on Empowering Persons with Disabilities.
The center offers rehabilitation services in six key skills areas: mobility skills development, self-care, health and well-being development, behavioral and emotional adaptation, speech skills, and employment preparation.
In addition, it provides comprehensive vocational training in various fields, including food and beverage services (e.g., barista training, beverage preparation, baking, and Thai desserts), arts and crafts (woven doormats, bag making and painting, Saori weaving, decoupage on woven shoes, bags, and boxes, Thai clay pottery, herbal product processing, and mangosteen soap), and agriculture (hydroponics, kitchen gardening, and mushroom cultivation).
For more information, please contact:
Taweesap Sriwalo
Tel. 098-525-3168
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