Malaysia To Produce RM5 Billion Worth Of Swiftlet Nests By 2020

November 25, 2009 12:39 PM
Bernama


JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 25 Nov (Bernama) -- Malaysia is expected to have 100,000 swiftlet nest farms by 2020 and capable of producing 500 tonnes of birds' nests, worth RM5 billion, year for the world market.

Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Minister Datuk Noh Omar said last year, 250 tonnes of birds' nests worth RM1 billion were produced from 50,000 swiftlet farms in the country.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants the swiftlet nest farming to be a big industry in the country and the ministry will work to achieve it," he said when opening a seminar on "Iskandar Malaysia-China Bird Nest Business Opportunity 2009 here on Tuesday's night.

Noh said one of the Key Performance Index (KPI) of the ministry was to make bird's nest farming one of the important industry in Malaysia.

He said that on April 1 this year, the Cabinet agreed that the Veterinary Service Department be the lead agency in the development of the country's swiftlet nest industry.

However, he said, involvement of the private sector was needed to ensure the industry could develop.

He said the ministry had allocated RM300 million through the Agro Bank for the industry's development and that the fund had bee utilised.

"Private investors should play their role to develop the swiftlet nest industry and not rely on the government alone for fund," he added.

Birds raid Batang Berjuntai

Saturday October 31, 2009
The Star
Story and photos by ELAN PERUMAL


SOME shoplots in Batang Berjuntai town in Kuala Selangor has been turned into homes for swiflets by breeders who seem to be capitalising on every available space for their activity.

Besides turning empty shoplots into swiflet breeding grounds, these breeders have also converted the back portion of shophouses as homes for the birds.


Almost all the shophouses along Jalan Kuala Selangor, which is the main road, have become swiflets breeding grou-nds.

There are several multi-storey buildings with massive extensions at the back where breeders conduct their activity.

Besides the town, the Bestari Jaya business centre has been also conqured by the swiflet breeders.

The breeders have converted the first floor of the vacant two-storey shoplots into breeding grounds. Some have also built an additional floor on the rooftop of the buildings to lure more birds.

A few of these breeders have also put signboards outside the building claiming that they are members of the swiflet breeding association.

Restaurant operator Rosli Sukiman, 45, said the swiflets were causing a lot of inconvenience to the people in the area.

Besides the noise pollution, he said, their droppings were also found all over the place, including on the vehicles that were parked outside the shops.

“Many of the vacant shoplots in the township have been turned into swiflet breeding spots,’’ he said

Another trader, who wished to be remain anonymous, said the presence of the swiflets was not good for the image of the town.

He said more and more business operators were closing their business and moving to other areas due to the situation.

“I hope the authorities will find a way to stop breeders from operating from shophouses,’’ he added.

Call To Accredit National Standard In New Fields

November 19, 2009 17:30 PM
Bernama


BANGI, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The Department of Standards Malaysia has been urged to identify and develop national standard in new fields especially those with high commercial value.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili said this would support the efforts of turning Malaysia into a high-income country.

He cited fields such as halal, nanotechnology, biotechnology, information security, food security, medical devices, construction products and swiftlet nest, which should be focused on.

Noting that the target of the National Standards Strategy and Action Plan was to have 6,000 Standard Malaysia products by 2020, he said 94.25 per cent or 5,655 products had been accredited up to Sept 30.

"This means the Department of Standards Malaysia need to accredit 345 more products to achieve the target," he said at the National Standards and Accreditation award presentation here on Wednesday.

Earlier, he witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Standards Malaysia and the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health to forge a collaboration in healthcare.