Phaya Mengrai district

Phaya Mengrai (Thai: พญาเม็งราย; IPA: [pʰá.jāː mēŋ.rāːj]) is a district (amphoe) of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.

Phaya Mengrai
พญาเม็งราย
Chedi, Phaya Mengrai
Chedi, Phaya Mengrai
District location in Chiang Rai province
District location in Chiang Rai province
Coordinates: 19°50′56″N 100°9′13″E
CountryThailand
ProvinceChiang Rai
SeatMengrai
Area
  Total620.0 km2 (239.4 sq mi)
Population
 (2005)
  Total41,972
  Density67.7/km2 (175/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code57290
Geocode5712

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the west clockwise): Wiang Chai, Wiang Chiang Rung, Chiang Khong, Khun Tan and Thoeng of Chiang Rai Province.

History

The minor district (king amphoe) was created on 5 May 1981, when the three tambons Mae Pao, Mae Tam, and Mai Ya were split off from Thoeng district.[1] It was upgraded to a full district on 12 August 1987.[2]

Etymology

The district is named after King Mengrai, the founder of the Lanna kingdom of northern Thailand.

Economy

Tambon Phay Mengrai is the site of a 2,700 rai Cavindish banana plantation owned and operated by the Chinese firm, Hongta International, a major local employer. The Cavendish banana is controversial as its cultivation requires the intensive use of chemical pesticides to yield harvests for export.[3] The Mekong-Lanna nature conservation network has accused the Chinese plantation of heavy use of pesticides and excessive water takings from Mae Ing Creek. These charges are as yet unsubstantiated (2016).[4]

Administration

The district is divided into five sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 69 villages (mubans). Phaya Mengrai is a township (thesaban tambon) which covers parts of tambons Mengrai and Mae Pao. There are a further five tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No. Name Thai name Villages Pop.
1.Mae Paoแม่เปา1911,302
2.Mae Tamแม่ต๋ำ115,026
3.Mai Yaไม้ยา1711,069
4.Mengraiเม็งราย149,899
5.Tat Khwanตาดควัน84,676

References


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