Dilemma over RM1bil swiftlet nest trade

Saturday December 12, 2009
The Star


KUALA LUMPUR: The swiftlet nest industry is highly lucrative with an annual turnover reaching RM1bil.

But a critical issue pertaining to the licensing of swiftlet farms within buildings located in towns may retard the industry if no solution is found.

Local authorities are against having swiftlet farms in towns as they can cause nuisance to the public and pollute the environment.

But in Sarawak where there are over 1,500 such farms operating illegally in towns, any attempt to eradicate them will impact negatively on the industry.

The licensing issue cropped up last year after the authorities conducted an exercise to clear up illegal swiftlet farms in Mukah town.

The move by the authorities has put many swiftlet farm owners in a quandary.

Furthermore, the Sarawak’s 1998 Wildlife Protection Ordinance also prohibits the species from being bred in other than its natural habitat like the caves.

Sarawak’s Forestry Department director Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the state government wanted the industry to be developed in a controlled manner in accordance with the laws.

Len Talif pointed out that only about 100 licenses had been approved from the 600 to 700 applications received since May.

“Most of the licenses approved are for the ‘old-players’ who conform to the prerequisites,” he said.

All of the licenses were issued for swiftlet farms in Mukah, Bintulu, Kuching, Kota Samarahan and Sarikei with all of them in agricultural areas.

The good news is, the state government plans to build three swiftlet ecoparks in Mukah, Sarikei and Bintulu with lots to be sold and rented out to those who are keen.

But many are sceptical that the bird will nest at the ecopark and feared the bureaucratic hassle.

This has prompted many swiftlet farm owners to seek exemptions and continue with their activities in the existing premises in towns, although this could create potential problem involving health issues.

Checks by the Veterinary Service Department which had carried out 5,000 tests on the birds confirmed that so far they are free from bird flu and Newcastle disease, but it is preparing a guideline making it compulsory for farms to be registered with the authority.

“The guideline will set the standard for all local governments. It will help traders and swiftlet farm owners to venture into this field in a more organised manner,” said the chairman of the Federation of Swiftlet Nest Merchants’ Associations Datuk Beh Heng Seong.

The swiftlet nest from this country is of high quality and is highly sought in China and Arab with prices fetching up to RM10,000 per kilo.