Amphoe Phaya Mengrai

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 / 19.84889°N 100.15361°E / 19.84889; 100.15361
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

Phaya Mengrai (Thai: พญาเม็งราย, pronounced [pʰā.jāː mēŋ.rāːj]; Northern Thai: พญามังฮาย, pronounced [pʰā.ɲāː māŋ.hāːj]) is a district (amphoe) of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.

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 Pao แม่เปา 19 11,302
2. Mae Tam แม่ต๋ำ 11 5,026
3. Mai Ya ไม้ยา 17 11,069
4. Mengrai เม็งราย 14 9,899
5. Tat Khwan ตาดควัน 8 4,676

References