Koperasi Setiakawan Plans To Enter Swiftlet Farming Industry

June 01, 2010 15:07 PM
Bernama
By Adnan Jahaya

KANGAR, June 1 (Bernama) -- Koperasi Setiakawan Perlis Berhad plans to enter the swiftlet farming industry in a big way, with its target market being Hong Kong and China.

Its General Manager, Bahari Ali said a 10-hectare site in Perlis had been identified for the swiftlet farming, as well as for processing of nests before export.

Speaking to Bernama here Tuesday, he said the cooperative will offer 2,000 units of special shares valued at RM1,000 per unit to members, for the implementation of the project.

He also disclosed that the cooperative would sponsor a course on June 5 for 40 participants from throughout the country for the rearing of swiftlets, in cooperation with the Perlis Veterinary Department.

Bahari said, although the cooperative with its office here in Taman Jejawi is still new and be only launched on June 6, its economic planning was already underway.

According to him, Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu is scheduled to launch the cooperative and also witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between it and Riyana Marketing Sdn Bhd.

Riyana Marketing will be elected the sole representative to collect and market, Small and Medium Industry (SMI) products, undertaken by the cooperatives' members.

Bahari said the cooperative also plans to open a plant to process coffee in Qianghai province, China, in a joint venture, early next year.

Also proposed is the establishment of a Kedai Rakyat and Pasar Rakyat at potential locations throughout the country.

He asked that those interested in joining the cooperative, to contact him for further information at 018-3871654 or 012-5713639.

-- BERNAMA

Entrepreneurs want a one-stop centre

Friday October 30, 2009
The Star
By OH ING YEEN


A one-stop centre for issuing licences and permits relating to the bird’s nest industry will benefit entrepreneurs if it is given the green light.

This was one of the resolutions discussed by the Asia Bird’s Nest Conference recently.

Currently, the farmers have to apply for a premises licence from the local council to build the bird house and then apply for a harvesting licence from the Wildlife Department.


Photo: Learning experience: The participants were also shown different types of bird’s nests at the event.

More than 250 participants from various states took part in the two-day swiftlet workshop held at the Paya Indah Wetlands, Dengkil.

It was the third and last in a series of workshops that began in 2008.

The objective of the workshop was to get feedback from participants who had ventured into the industry and to discuss the problems they face and come up with solutions.

Other resolutions that were discussed include:

·URGING the government to prepare complete guidelines for the industry;

lResearch collaboration bet-ween the government and industry players should be created or continued and government consultancy services provided, if needed; and

lrecognisING the industry as an expanding one to market the products through a standardised brand name.

Halim Kepol, 44, from Batu Pahat, got to know about the industry from friends and the Internet and has spent RM135,000 building a bird house.

“I’m interested in this industry as I feel it has the potential to succeed.

“The workshop provided us a platform to discuss swiftlet-related issues and I’ve learnt a lot from the workshops,” he said.

Another participant Abu Hussin, a retiree, said the swiftlet business was booming in Alor Gajah, Malacca.

“It’s a good opportunity as there is guidance and aid provided for swiftlet nest entrepreneurs.

“Moreover, there’s not much competition and the risk is low,” he said.

Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Rasid Samsudin said Perhilitan’s role was mainly in conservation.

When asked for his comments about Sahabat Alam Malaysia’s call to ban swiftlet farming, he said the industry should not be discouraged but should be controlled.

“It has to be done on agricultural land, away from the urban areas,” he said.

A total of 16 public awareness programmes have been carried out from 2008 till June this year.