Saturday December 20, 2008
The Star
THE state government has brought good as well as bad news to swif-let breeders operating in residential premises in Penang.
They can continue with their operations for another one year as it has extended the three-year moratorium which will expire end of the month.
This, said State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, is to enable the state to review the current industry policies and guidelines.
However, he said the breeders in George Town’s heritage area must put a stop to the playing of the swiftlet song recordings.
“They must also tear down all illegal extensions.
“During the extension period, all new applications for swiftlet breeding licenses will be frozen until new guidelines and policies are formulated,” he said in a statement yesterday. Abdul Malik said the one-year extension was decided by the newly-established Swiftlet Industry Management Committee which met on Dec 11.
He said the extension was to enable the committee to study the current guidelines and policies and make the necessary amendments.
He said two new sub-committees had also been created to study the short and long-term management of the swiftlet industry.
“The Swiftlet Industry Technical Management Committee (short term) will be handled by the state’s Local Government unit and will concentrate on helping swiftlet operators deal with the new deadline.
“The long-term committee, on the other hand, will be put under the Veterinary Services Depart-ment and it will be responsible for studying the relocation of swiftlet breeding areas to more appropriate locations like an eco-park or agricultural zone,” he said.
A ban on swiftlet breeding activities in residential premises was announced in November 2005 and operators who could not comply with the regulations were given three years to relocate.
There are currently more than 100 breeders still operating from houses in George Town.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The sky’s the limit for swiftlet farming?
Saturday December 13, 2008
The Star
By Errol Oh
THERE are indications that swiftlet farming has the potential to be as huge in this country as it is in Indonesia, where listed companies are among the industry participants.
Malaysia enjoys certain advantages such as the fact that the swiftlets are found only in some parts of South-East Asia. There is also swiftlet farming in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines and Myanmar, but our local conditions may tip the balance in our favour.
Also, the frequent forest fires in Indonesia in recent years have driven away many birds and many have ended up in Malaysia.
Says swiftlet farm owner Dr Christopher Lim: “Indonesia is the pioneer in swiftlet farming. It has done quite well in the past but lately it has found that the nest production and quality are not as good as in Malaysia. So much so that the Indonesians sometimes buy nests from Malaysia.”
Nobody seems to be concerned about the possibility that once swiftlet farming takes off in a big way, supply may one day overtake demand.
Says Kelvin Heng of Pearlnest, a swiftlet farming consultancy outfit: “There’s a limited supply all the time. The swiftlets nest only three times a year. People are getting more health-conscious. The wellness industry is growing fast. The demand for bird nests won’t go down.”
Before this, the Malaysian operators are almost exclusively minor-league entrepreneurs and property owners.
Today, bigger players are coming into the picture as well. For one thing, swiftlet farming is one of the East Coast Economic Region’s promoted activities.
On Nov 25, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said his ministry would propose to the Cabinet that the development of the industry be given more attention.
A prominent Tan Sri who controls a group of listed companies is believed to have personally invested RM2mil to build a swiftlet farm in Pekan, and may be looking to have more in other locations.
At least one Malaysian-listed company has ventured into the game, and that is Seal Inc Bhd.
Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Seal Ventures Sdn Bhd, is the developer of Krai Eco Park, a project comprising about 60 three-storey buildings in Kuala Krai, Kelantan.
Seal Inc’s 2008 annual report refers to the project as an industrial park development, but a Krai Eco Park brochure unmistakably positions the units as swiftlet houses.
Supporting the industry
Another telling sign that swiftlet farming is gaining momentum here is that a sub-industry has emerged in Malaysia to provide swiftlet farmers with a broad range of products and services.
The former include audio, monitoring and security systems; chemicals; and fittings for the birdhouses.
Lim is not the only one to have produced a book on swiftlet farming, although he recalls facing a lot of resistance within the industry when he began writing in 2006.
In fact, there are several such publications in English, Chinese and Malay. Sharing of information, it seems, is no longer a no-no.
On the services side, there are dozens of consultants who offer to design, build and manage swiftlet farms.
There are also those who organise seminars and courses. There are dozens of websites and blogs relating to the industry.
The worry is that some of the service providers may not have the necessary expertise and experience, and are instead looking to capitalise on the surge in swiftlet farming.
According to industry insiders, the standard consulting fee for turning shoplots into birdhouses is RM10,000.
“That’s a much faster way to make money than by investing in the farms, which will take a few years before you start seeing good returns,” says a farmer.
Swiftlet Ventures International, which has not begun operating its first birdhouse in Rawang, says first-hand knowledge is not always crucial. The consultancy’s edge, says manager Mohammad Azimullah, is its ties with an Indonesian firm with a 30-year track record and with other Malaysian players.
The argument is that it is just as important to be able to draw on this network’s pool of know-how.
Another new trend to watch is the development of the so-called eco parks, which feature rows of purpose-built swiftlet farms at single locations away from residential and commercial areas.
This way, there will be compliance with the authorities’ requirements and there will be no neighbours to complain about the birdhouses.
However, some industry players think that it will take a long time to populate so many birdhouses in one spot.
The Star
By Errol Oh
THERE are indications that swiftlet farming has the potential to be as huge in this country as it is in Indonesia, where listed companies are among the industry participants.
Malaysia enjoys certain advantages such as the fact that the swiftlets are found only in some parts of South-East Asia. There is also swiftlet farming in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines and Myanmar, but our local conditions may tip the balance in our favour.
Also, the frequent forest fires in Indonesia in recent years have driven away many birds and many have ended up in Malaysia.
Says swiftlet farm owner Dr Christopher Lim: “Indonesia is the pioneer in swiftlet farming. It has done quite well in the past but lately it has found that the nest production and quality are not as good as in Malaysia. So much so that the Indonesians sometimes buy nests from Malaysia.”
Nobody seems to be concerned about the possibility that once swiftlet farming takes off in a big way, supply may one day overtake demand.
Says Kelvin Heng of Pearlnest, a swiftlet farming consultancy outfit: “There’s a limited supply all the time. The swiftlets nest only three times a year. People are getting more health-conscious. The wellness industry is growing fast. The demand for bird nests won’t go down.”
Before this, the Malaysian operators are almost exclusively minor-league entrepreneurs and property owners.
Today, bigger players are coming into the picture as well. For one thing, swiftlet farming is one of the East Coast Economic Region’s promoted activities.
On Nov 25, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said his ministry would propose to the Cabinet that the development of the industry be given more attention.
A prominent Tan Sri who controls a group of listed companies is believed to have personally invested RM2mil to build a swiftlet farm in Pekan, and may be looking to have more in other locations.
At least one Malaysian-listed company has ventured into the game, and that is Seal Inc Bhd.
Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Seal Ventures Sdn Bhd, is the developer of Krai Eco Park, a project comprising about 60 three-storey buildings in Kuala Krai, Kelantan.
Seal Inc’s 2008 annual report refers to the project as an industrial park development, but a Krai Eco Park brochure unmistakably positions the units as swiftlet houses.
Supporting the industry
Another telling sign that swiftlet farming is gaining momentum here is that a sub-industry has emerged in Malaysia to provide swiftlet farmers with a broad range of products and services.
The former include audio, monitoring and security systems; chemicals; and fittings for the birdhouses.
Lim is not the only one to have produced a book on swiftlet farming, although he recalls facing a lot of resistance within the industry when he began writing in 2006.
In fact, there are several such publications in English, Chinese and Malay. Sharing of information, it seems, is no longer a no-no.
On the services side, there are dozens of consultants who offer to design, build and manage swiftlet farms.
There are also those who organise seminars and courses. There are dozens of websites and blogs relating to the industry.
The worry is that some of the service providers may not have the necessary expertise and experience, and are instead looking to capitalise on the surge in swiftlet farming.
According to industry insiders, the standard consulting fee for turning shoplots into birdhouses is RM10,000.
“That’s a much faster way to make money than by investing in the farms, which will take a few years before you start seeing good returns,” says a farmer.
Swiftlet Ventures International, which has not begun operating its first birdhouse in Rawang, says first-hand knowledge is not always crucial. The consultancy’s edge, says manager Mohammad Azimullah, is its ties with an Indonesian firm with a 30-year track record and with other Malaysian players.
The argument is that it is just as important to be able to draw on this network’s pool of know-how.
Another new trend to watch is the development of the so-called eco parks, which feature rows of purpose-built swiftlet farms at single locations away from residential and commercial areas.
This way, there will be compliance with the authorities’ requirements and there will be no neighbours to complain about the birdhouses.
However, some industry players think that it will take a long time to populate so many birdhouses in one spot.
Rising investments in swiftlet farming boost Malaysia’s bird nest exports
Saturday December 13, 2008
The Star
Stories By ERROL OH
ALL businesses are built on blood, sweat and tears, at least in the figurative sense. But one industry thrives on another bodily fluid – saliva. Bird saliva, that is. And not just any bird. It has to be the swiftlet, whose nests of hardened spit have been a delicacy treasured by the Chinese for centuries.
Depending on the quality, marketplace and timing, a kilogramme of unprocessed edible bird nest can fetch a few thousand ringgit.
The processing, a tedious and labour-intensive affair, typically doubles the value of the nests. Quoting a senior Sabah government official, a news report early last month says bird nest is sold at RM4,000 to RM18,000 per kg.
The global market is said to be worth billions of ringgit. Thanks to its head start of 20 years or so in swiftlet farming on a commercial scale, Indonesia supplies 70% to 80% of the bird nests consumed worldwide, mainly in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Macau, Singapore and North America.
Heng believes swiftlet farming is a great investment opportunity
However, swiftlet farming is an increasingly visible business in Malaysia. Given the high rate of innovation and adoption here, there is a good chance of Malaysia growing its current market share of about 10%.
(Some people use the words ranching or breeding instead of farming. Actually, none is accurate because the operators merely provide a nesting environment for the birds, which come and go freely. Perhaps a more appropriate term is swiftlet hosting.)
Dr Christopher Lim, a nephrologist who has succeeded as a part-time swiftlet farmer and has authored a how-to book on the subject, says there are about 22,000 swiftlet farms (also known as swiftlet hotels, swiftlet houses or birdhouses) in Malaysia. He estimates that there are 200 new ones every month.
This explains the increasing frequency of complaints from residents and business owners about birdhouses in their neighbourhoods.
If you happen to be near swiftlet farms, it will not take you long to notice them. You will hear loud, piercing chirps filling the sky. This comes from CDs that are played to attract the birds. And if you look around, you are likely to spot windowless buildings (usually shophouses) that have been renovated or built to host feathered occupants.
Birdhouse boom
The list of towns that have become known for this activity is lengthening. There are such places in just about every state. What these towns usually have in common are proximity to agricultural and forest land, and relatively low levels of industrial activity.
The first element is important because farms, plantations and jungles support the swiftlets’ diet of flying insects. The lack of factories in the vicinity matters because air pollution is anathema to the birds.
You can find many swiftlet farms in Perak (in Sitiawan, Ipoh, Teluk Intan and Taiping, for example), Pahang (Kuantan, Rompin, Pekan), Kelantan (Kota Baru, Tumpat), Terengganu (Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Besut) and Kedah (Sungai Petani).
Even the more developed states, such as Selangor, Johor and Penang have their share of areas that have attracted investments in swiftlet farming.
Mohammad says guidelines on acceptable practices in swiftlet farming are available
Until recently, the industry in Malaysia had maintained a low profile. The operators that were doing well were unwilling to share information and knowledge. The secrets to profitable swiftlet farming stayed within a tight circle and this was a major barrier to entry.
Still, there is no holding back the desire to make money. Despite the lack of transparency, the trickle of newcomers had eventually led to a critical mass that kicked the doors wide open some five years ago.
The key attraction here is the lure of lucrative returns from a passive investment. The idea is simple – put up a well-designed and well-equipped swiftlet farm at the right spot, and the rest will fall in place. The birds will come and soon, you can keep harvesting their nests for many years.
“It’s a gold mine,” says Mohammad Azimullah, manager of Swiftlets Venture International (SVI), a consultancy outfit.
“You put in RM500,000 and if your location is good, you can net RM1mil a year within four years. Where else in the world can you find such a business?”
Kelvin Heng of Pearlnest, which does trading and consulting work, is convinced that swiftlet farming is currently the best investment opportunity in Malaysia.
He explains: “You invest only once. You don’t have to come out with money every month to pay maintenance and workers’ salaries. If the farm is successful, you can collect thousands of ringgit every month.”
On a wing and a prayer
There are, of course, a lot of ifs and buts to deal within this fledgeling industry. A lot of people have rushed into it and many of them have crashed and burned.
Lim reckons that about 80% of the birdhouses in Malaysia are failed projects.
Mohammad of SVI has a slightly different take. He says the failure rate is 60%, but adds that of the rest, half are considered only marginally successful.
The concept of swiftlet farming is uncomplicated, but the execution is technically challenging if the farmers do not understand what makes the birds tick.
Many parameters determine the suitability of a farm’s location, and these include food availability, weather and geographical conditions, and nearby industrial activities.
The design of the birdhouse can be equally tricky. In the wild, swiftlets nest in caves. So, the idea is to simulate a cave environment, which means temperature, lighting, humidity, smell and space are often make-or-break features.
In addition, well-designed birdhouses make it easy for the swiftlets to fly in and out and to nest. They should also be built in such a way so as to protect the birds from predators and to minimise antagonising the neighbours.
The last objective is crucial because many times, the local authorities have shut down swiftlet farming operations following objections from other rate-payers.
A common problem is the noise from the birdcall recordings. Lim blames this on the farmers’ ignorance.
“If you know how to properly design and run the farms, the neighbours won’t be bothered by the sounds. You want to attract birds, not humans,” he argues.
Heng of Pearlnest agrees: “The farmers turn up the volume like it’s karaoke. You have to be considerate. And you don’t have to play the sound the whole day. There’s no point in that anyway.”
SVI’s Mohammad points out that the Veterinary Services Department and some local authorities have already come up with guidelines on acceptable practices in swiftlet farming. Therefore, the best way for swiftlet farmers to safeguard their investments is to just stick to the rules.
He says: “People should go for purpose-built birdhouses. We never recommend building birdhouses in shophouses.” He foresees that in 10 years, the practice of converting shophouses into bird farms will be outlawed.
The Star
Stories By ERROL OH
ALL businesses are built on blood, sweat and tears, at least in the figurative sense. But one industry thrives on another bodily fluid – saliva. Bird saliva, that is. And not just any bird. It has to be the swiftlet, whose nests of hardened spit have been a delicacy treasured by the Chinese for centuries.
Depending on the quality, marketplace and timing, a kilogramme of unprocessed edible bird nest can fetch a few thousand ringgit.
The processing, a tedious and labour-intensive affair, typically doubles the value of the nests. Quoting a senior Sabah government official, a news report early last month says bird nest is sold at RM4,000 to RM18,000 per kg.
The global market is said to be worth billions of ringgit. Thanks to its head start of 20 years or so in swiftlet farming on a commercial scale, Indonesia supplies 70% to 80% of the bird nests consumed worldwide, mainly in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Macau, Singapore and North America.
Heng believes swiftlet farming is a great investment opportunity
However, swiftlet farming is an increasingly visible business in Malaysia. Given the high rate of innovation and adoption here, there is a good chance of Malaysia growing its current market share of about 10%.
(Some people use the words ranching or breeding instead of farming. Actually, none is accurate because the operators merely provide a nesting environment for the birds, which come and go freely. Perhaps a more appropriate term is swiftlet hosting.)
Dr Christopher Lim, a nephrologist who has succeeded as a part-time swiftlet farmer and has authored a how-to book on the subject, says there are about 22,000 swiftlet farms (also known as swiftlet hotels, swiftlet houses or birdhouses) in Malaysia. He estimates that there are 200 new ones every month.
This explains the increasing frequency of complaints from residents and business owners about birdhouses in their neighbourhoods.
If you happen to be near swiftlet farms, it will not take you long to notice them. You will hear loud, piercing chirps filling the sky. This comes from CDs that are played to attract the birds. And if you look around, you are likely to spot windowless buildings (usually shophouses) that have been renovated or built to host feathered occupants.
Birdhouse boom
The list of towns that have become known for this activity is lengthening. There are such places in just about every state. What these towns usually have in common are proximity to agricultural and forest land, and relatively low levels of industrial activity.
The first element is important because farms, plantations and jungles support the swiftlets’ diet of flying insects. The lack of factories in the vicinity matters because air pollution is anathema to the birds.
You can find many swiftlet farms in Perak (in Sitiawan, Ipoh, Teluk Intan and Taiping, for example), Pahang (Kuantan, Rompin, Pekan), Kelantan (Kota Baru, Tumpat), Terengganu (Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Besut) and Kedah (Sungai Petani).
Even the more developed states, such as Selangor, Johor and Penang have their share of areas that have attracted investments in swiftlet farming.
Mohammad says guidelines on acceptable practices in swiftlet farming are available
Until recently, the industry in Malaysia had maintained a low profile. The operators that were doing well were unwilling to share information and knowledge. The secrets to profitable swiftlet farming stayed within a tight circle and this was a major barrier to entry.
Still, there is no holding back the desire to make money. Despite the lack of transparency, the trickle of newcomers had eventually led to a critical mass that kicked the doors wide open some five years ago.
The key attraction here is the lure of lucrative returns from a passive investment. The idea is simple – put up a well-designed and well-equipped swiftlet farm at the right spot, and the rest will fall in place. The birds will come and soon, you can keep harvesting their nests for many years.
“It’s a gold mine,” says Mohammad Azimullah, manager of Swiftlets Venture International (SVI), a consultancy outfit.
“You put in RM500,000 and if your location is good, you can net RM1mil a year within four years. Where else in the world can you find such a business?”
Kelvin Heng of Pearlnest, which does trading and consulting work, is convinced that swiftlet farming is currently the best investment opportunity in Malaysia.
He explains: “You invest only once. You don’t have to come out with money every month to pay maintenance and workers’ salaries. If the farm is successful, you can collect thousands of ringgit every month.”
On a wing and a prayer
There are, of course, a lot of ifs and buts to deal within this fledgeling industry. A lot of people have rushed into it and many of them have crashed and burned.
Lim reckons that about 80% of the birdhouses in Malaysia are failed projects.
Mohammad of SVI has a slightly different take. He says the failure rate is 60%, but adds that of the rest, half are considered only marginally successful.
The concept of swiftlet farming is uncomplicated, but the execution is technically challenging if the farmers do not understand what makes the birds tick.
Many parameters determine the suitability of a farm’s location, and these include food availability, weather and geographical conditions, and nearby industrial activities.
The design of the birdhouse can be equally tricky. In the wild, swiftlets nest in caves. So, the idea is to simulate a cave environment, which means temperature, lighting, humidity, smell and space are often make-or-break features.
In addition, well-designed birdhouses make it easy for the swiftlets to fly in and out and to nest. They should also be built in such a way so as to protect the birds from predators and to minimise antagonising the neighbours.
The last objective is crucial because many times, the local authorities have shut down swiftlet farming operations following objections from other rate-payers.
A common problem is the noise from the birdcall recordings. Lim blames this on the farmers’ ignorance.
“If you know how to properly design and run the farms, the neighbours won’t be bothered by the sounds. You want to attract birds, not humans,” he argues.
Heng of Pearlnest agrees: “The farmers turn up the volume like it’s karaoke. You have to be considerate. And you don’t have to play the sound the whole day. There’s no point in that anyway.”
SVI’s Mohammad points out that the Veterinary Services Department and some local authorities have already come up with guidelines on acceptable practices in swiftlet farming. Therefore, the best way for swiftlet farmers to safeguard their investments is to just stick to the rules.
He says: “People should go for purpose-built birdhouses. We never recommend building birdhouses in shophouses.” He foresees that in 10 years, the practice of converting shophouses into bird farms will be outlawed.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Swiftlet business soaring high in Pahang
Friday December 5, 2008
The Star
By ROSLINA MOHAMAD
KUANTAN: A total of 1,489 swiftlet premises have been developed by 1,036 operators in Pahang.
Kuantan topped the list with 700 premises managed by 500 operators followed by Rompin, Pekan, Temerloh, Jerantut, Bera, Bentong and Raub.
State Agriculture, Agro-based Industries and Felda Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Tan Aminuddin Ishak said the high demands for swiftlet nests in the Chinese community made it a lucrative business.
The migration of the birds from caves to towns helped people set up new business ventures, he said. “The annual trade in Malaysia is estimated to be worth RM500mil. In Pahang alone it is worth RM36mil,” he said here recently.Tan Aminuddin said the bird’s raw nest could fetch between RM1,000 and RM2,000 per kilogram.
Interest in the industry was so high that commercial buildings and homes had been converted into nesting places, he added.
However, there were certain issues which needed attention, especially the risk of disease, bird droppings, cleanliness of towns, noise pollution, price of property devalued and depreciation in quality of life, Tan Aminuddin said.
In view of this, the Veterinary Services Department was committed in providing training on good animal husbandry practice, he added.
“This practice had been made a requirement under local government by-laws before the issuance of licences.
“The department has organised courses on this practice for operators to enable them to get the permits,” he said.
Tan Aminuddin also said the department would carry out checks from time to time to ensure the premises were free of diseases and did not pose risks to the public and the birds.
“The swiftlet industry has great potential for farmers in the state but there is a need to check its development to avoid conflicts and health risks.
“If properly managed, the industry can contribute to the state’s coffers with farmers earning good incomes,” he added.
The Star
By ROSLINA MOHAMAD
KUANTAN: A total of 1,489 swiftlet premises have been developed by 1,036 operators in Pahang.
Kuantan topped the list with 700 premises managed by 500 operators followed by Rompin, Pekan, Temerloh, Jerantut, Bera, Bentong and Raub.
State Agriculture, Agro-based Industries and Felda Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Tan Aminuddin Ishak said the high demands for swiftlet nests in the Chinese community made it a lucrative business.
The migration of the birds from caves to towns helped people set up new business ventures, he said. “The annual trade in Malaysia is estimated to be worth RM500mil. In Pahang alone it is worth RM36mil,” he said here recently.Tan Aminuddin said the bird’s raw nest could fetch between RM1,000 and RM2,000 per kilogram.
Interest in the industry was so high that commercial buildings and homes had been converted into nesting places, he added.
However, there were certain issues which needed attention, especially the risk of disease, bird droppings, cleanliness of towns, noise pollution, price of property devalued and depreciation in quality of life, Tan Aminuddin said.
In view of this, the Veterinary Services Department was committed in providing training on good animal husbandry practice, he added.
“This practice had been made a requirement under local government by-laws before the issuance of licences.
“The department has organised courses on this practice for operators to enable them to get the permits,” he said.
Tan Aminuddin also said the department would carry out checks from time to time to ensure the premises were free of diseases and did not pose risks to the public and the birds.
“The swiftlet industry has great potential for farmers in the state but there is a need to check its development to avoid conflicts and health risks.
“If properly managed, the industry can contribute to the state’s coffers with farmers earning good incomes,” he added.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Bird-nest hysteria rages
Tuesday November 25, 2008
The Star
By SYED AZWAN SYED ALI
MUKAH (SARAWAK): Mukah, a sleepy hollow that can be reached by land via a two-and-a-half hour journey from Sibu, has had very few economic activities.
This scenario has changed with the massive migration of burung walit or swiftlets from Indonesia due to the La Nina meteorological phenomenon and immense forest fires in the republic in the early years of the new millennium.
Full of birds: The view inside a bird-nest building in Mukah.
Real estate values in Mukah and its fringing areas have shot up while the top floors of shophouses and commercial buildings in this town have been turned into homes for these birds.
“Previously, getting RM30,000 for the top floor of a shophouse here was remote. Since the arrival of the swiftlets, offers came in as high as RM200,000,” said bird nest entrepreneur John Low here.
On Oct 13, 2005, the Government lifted restrictions on bird-nest trading apart from acknowledging that the venture had the potential to boost the incomes of locals.
Bird-nest entrepreneurs in other states are required to obtain the nod from the local authorities before creating homes for the birds to safeguard the environment the interests of residents.
However, on Oct 14, Sarawak Forestry Department rangers demolished two bird-nest premises in Medan Setiaraya and New Township Mukah, creating a predicament for bird-nest businessmen.
Mukah Birdnest Association chairman Philip Tiong said the rangers not only demolished the premises but also seized bird nests but and killed young swiftlets.
Good income: A swiftlet building its nest in one of the premises. This happened even though the swiftlets were a protected species, he said.
“We want the state to consider issuing permits and guidelines for us,” said Tiong, who called on Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to intervene on the issue.
Tiong said, if state authorities were adamant on blanketing out the bird-nest industry, many entrepreneurs, including the 150 members of the association, would be out of business.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Assistant Minister for Planning and Resource Management, Mohd Naroden Majais, was reported to have said that the bird-nest industry came under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, Wildlife Protection (Edible Bird Nests) Rules 1998 and Wildlife Protection Rules 1998.
It is all right if the birds live in their natural habitat, like inside caves, but they are not allowed in urban areas.
A check by Bernama here found that the swiftlet buildings were clean and free of noise like other premises in the town.
However, the calmness disappears at sundown when the swiftlets return in the tens of thousands to their nests.
This writer was given the opportunity to check a building used to house thousands of swiftlets and found that it was clean, well kept and had good ventilation.
“We adhere to guidelines drawn by the Veterinary Department,” Tiong said, referring to the department’s Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) certificate.
The certificate is one of the requirements for one to be allowed to venture into the bird-nest industry in Sarawak.
Clearance is also needed from the Wildlife Protection Department, Land Survey Department and local authorities.
Industry sources said the GAHP certificate ensured the industry was well managed apart from preventing infectious diseases like bird flu.
Last July 5, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said the rearing of swiftlets was allowed at commercial premises and shophouses but not in housing estates.
Trade in bird nests began more than a century ago with the first recorded harvesting carried out at the Niah Caves in Sarawak in 1878.
Indonesia is the first nation to carry out trade in bird nests due to the immense value of the commodity.
There are 10,000 buildings used as swiftlet ranches nationwide, producing 12 tonnes of bird nests a month.
Unprocessed bird nests fetch an average price of RM4,000 per kg. This means the industry is capable of generating RM48mil in turnover a month.
“The price is 10 times higher after the material is processed and graded for export”, said an industry source who wished not to be named.
The industry is not limited to Mukah. Major towns like Kuching, Bintulu, Sarikei and Sibu are alos involved.
“The swiftlets benefit urban dwellers and villagers who lease their land to bird-nest businessmen for up to RM700 a month,” said a caretaker of a swiftlet ranch who wished to be named only as Fadhil.
Civil servant Khalil Ali, who invested RM30,000 on bird-nest premises at his family-owned land in Kampung Oyak, Mukah, called for the Sarawak government to solve the confusion over the industry.
Despite the state’s move to set up five swiftlet eco-parks, including two in Daro and Mukah, the bird-nest issue should be viewed objectively.
The state has to think of ways to transfer the birds to their new homes without having to demolish some 1,500 premises or culling tens of thousands of the protected species.
“We want our shoplots to be legalised. Allow us the same rights as accorded to bird-nest entrepreneurs in the Peninsula,” said Low.
To date, the authorities have issued licences for only two bird-nest premises. — Bernama
Friday, November 7, 2008
2 licenses required for Swiftlet farming in Sarawak
Friday November 7, 2008
The Star
By JACK WONG
On swiflet farming, State Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Mohd Naroden Majais said the Sarawak Forestry Corporation had identified 126 farmers who were breeding swiftlets in the cities and major towns.
With the exception of two, all are operating illegally.
“The Sarawak Forestry Corporation has received 44 applications for licences to breed swiftlets,” he told Andy Chua Chu Fatt (BN – Pujut).
He said two licences – one to build or maintain a building for swiftlet farming and the other for a commercial wildlife farm – were required for bird nest farming.
The Star
By JACK WONG
On swiflet farming, State Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Mohd Naroden Majais said the Sarawak Forestry Corporation had identified 126 farmers who were breeding swiftlets in the cities and major towns.
With the exception of two, all are operating illegally.
“The Sarawak Forestry Corporation has received 44 applications for licences to breed swiftlets,” he told Andy Chua Chu Fatt (BN – Pujut).
He said two licences – one to build or maintain a building for swiftlet farming and the other for a commercial wildlife farm – were required for bird nest farming.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Authorities to take action against ‘improper’ swiftlet farming
Tuesday October 21, 2008
The Star
By SHARON LING
KUCHING: Swiftlet farmers operating in shophouses in town areas must cease their operations by the end of this year or face action from the Forest Department and Sarawak Forestry Corporation.
State forest director Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the birds should not be reared in shophouses as their droppings were unhygienic and posed a health hazard.
In addition, music played on loudspeakers to attract the birds was a nuisance to others.
“We are not against swiftlet farming. In fact, we encourage swiftlet farming, but it must be done in a proper way and not at the expense of others,” he said, adding that swiftlet farmers must obtain a licence from the department before they could begin operations.
Under the state’s Wildlife Protection Rules, swiftlet farming can only be done on agricultural land or in rural areas.
Len said the department had identified about 1,500 farmers in the state who were operating illegally without a licence.
Last week, enforcement officers from the department and Sarawak Forestry took action against several illegal swiftlet farms in Mukah town district by removing the birds and the nests.
However, following requests for a grace period, the authorities have halted their operation to allow the farmers to dismantle the nests by Dec 31.
“I have agreed to the grace period until the end of the year and the farmers will remove the birds and nests on their own.
“We are now monitoring them to make sure they are removing the nests one by one,” Len said.
The Star
By SHARON LING
KUCHING: Swiftlet farmers operating in shophouses in town areas must cease their operations by the end of this year or face action from the Forest Department and Sarawak Forestry Corporation.
State forest director Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the birds should not be reared in shophouses as their droppings were unhygienic and posed a health hazard.
In addition, music played on loudspeakers to attract the birds was a nuisance to others.
“We are not against swiftlet farming. In fact, we encourage swiftlet farming, but it must be done in a proper way and not at the expense of others,” he said, adding that swiftlet farmers must obtain a licence from the department before they could begin operations.
Under the state’s Wildlife Protection Rules, swiftlet farming can only be done on agricultural land or in rural areas.
Len said the department had identified about 1,500 farmers in the state who were operating illegally without a licence.
Last week, enforcement officers from the department and Sarawak Forestry took action against several illegal swiftlet farms in Mukah town district by removing the birds and the nests.
However, following requests for a grace period, the authorities have halted their operation to allow the farmers to dismantle the nests by Dec 31.
“I have agreed to the grace period until the end of the year and the farmers will remove the birds and nests on their own.
“We are now monitoring them to make sure they are removing the nests one by one,” Len said.
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