Firm devises swift way to nest egg

Tuesday October 12, 2010
The Star
By MANJIT KAUR
manjit@thestar.com.my


BUKIT MERTAJAM: A Kulim-based company has come up with a new method of breeding swiftlets in an artificial environment.

Aeroswift Group of Companies group chief executive officer Khairil Sani Wong Abdullah said they are the first private company collaborating with the Veterinary Services Department and several local universities to perfect the technique.

He claimed that his research-based company was the first in the world to have created an aviary in Kulim using the know-how.

“We also have a section to breed a type of fruit fly which is used to feed the swiftlet chicks. The chicks are raised in plastic nests before they are transferred to huge cages.

“The method has proven to be successful and this will stabilise the multi-billion ringgit industry for the future,” he said at an Awareness of Swiftlet Rearing Industry talk at a hotel here.

Khairil said a bigger research centre was being built in Selangor and it will have 12 research officers and veterinarians based there when completed by the end of next month.

He added that Malaysia is the only country which legally exported bird nest to China, and there was huge market in the Middle-East and Europe as well.

Sabah’s swiftlet ban draws flak

The Star
By MUGUNTAN VANAR


KOTA KINABALU: A state cabinet decision to ban swiftlet farming within major urban centres is drawing flak among entrepreneurs of the lucrative bird nest business.

Swiftlet farmers are arguing that ''health and environmental issues should not be the basis of the ban as World Health Organisation tests and studies had shown that the birds are not carriers of diseases.

Sabah Swiftlet House and Bird Nest Industry president George Ng said that large presence of pigeons in the city’s popular Gaya Street was dirtier then the organised swiftlet farming.

He said major cities like Ipoh and Johor Baru had not stopped such activities and, as such, there was no reason for the state to ban the industry in major state towns like Sandakan, Tawau and the city here.

Ng wondered why the state decided to put in place a ban as the industry was still waiting for federal government guidelines for swiftlet farming practice.

State Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai had said the decision to ban the bird nest farming in the three major towns was also because it was a public nuisance.

''Most swiflet farms in town areas use music to attract these birds to return home and this is turned off at 7.30pm. I think even karaoke centres are noisier then our music, Ng said, expressing hope that the state would reconsider the move.

Meanwhile, Sabah Progressive Party questioned the alleged ''double standards” of Kota Kinabalu City Hall for not acting against two bird nests farms in Gaya Street area despite numerous complaints.

SAPP’s spokesman David Chong said city hall has shut down bird nest farms in Inanam area but refused to act against two similar farms in the city’s central business district.

''The state cabinet’s decision to ban swiftlet farming should be adhered to strictly and enforced, he added.

Swiftlet farming rules to be out in two months

Thursday April 1, 2010
The Star
By OH ING YEEN


ingyeen@thestar.com.my

THE state government will come up with guidelines on swiftlet farming within two months, Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) president Datuk Hassan Nawawi Abdul Rahman said at the full board meeting yesterday.

He was replying to councillor Tan Han Kuo’s question about guidelines for swiftlet farming as Tan said he had received complaints from residents.

“The swiftlet farming issue is not serious in Kajang. It is carried out in commercial areas in Semenyih and, as far as I know, there are no such activities in residential areas,” he said.

Bird's nest: He's reaping the rewards after trial and error

2010/03/29
NST



FOR swiftlet farmer Abdul Rahman Yaacob, success did not come overnight.


It took him more than three years of extensive research and countless visits to swiftlet farms in and out of the country before he had enough courage to start his own farm in the Tepoh countryside in Terengganu almost two years ago.

The 50-year-old building contractor knew the capital outlay for the project would be sizeable and he also knew he could not expect swift returns from his investment.

The father of three says he has learnt that for every successful swiftlet farmer in the country, at least five have failed to cash in on the lucrative bird's nest industry.

"That is only a 20 per cent chance of success but I had a feeling that many had started the bird hotel business with little knowledge.

"I did not want to be like them," he says, before admitting that he also did not learn enough.


Pix: Swiftlet farmer Abdul Rahman Yaacob (right) has modified his swiftlet hotel in Tepoh, Terengganu, to suit the needs of the birds.

The first year was of constant trial and error as he often had to tinker with the design of his building to meet the needs of the birds.

"I now understand why most people call swiftlet farms bird hotels as just like in the hospitality business, the comfort of the guests is the most important thing.

"The birds prefer the temperature to be between 26oC and 28oC, regardless of day or night, rain or shine. Air-conditioning will not do as the air will not retain the right moisture level," he says.

In the beginning, he used to hide for hours to observe the birds' flying pattern when they entered the building, the length of their stay and the trouble they went through before deciding on a nesting spot.

He says finding the right bird calls was a lengthy process as different sounds would make the birds do different things.

"Once, I was delighted to stumble upon a bird sound on tape which brought about a lot of birds to my place but, for some reason, they just did not want to enter the building.

"After conducting research, I now know what sound to play when I want them to come or when I want them to stay and build their nests," says Rahman, adding that the sound of birds on loudspeakers should not be allowed in residential areas.

His farm is located on an isolated hill.



"Kuala Terengganu has turned into a swiftlet city as hundreds, if not thousands, of bird hotels can be found along Jalan Bandar, Jalan Tok Lam, Jalan Kampung Tiong, Jalan Pejabat and other main streets. Shophouses along those streets have been and are being converted into bird farms and that is not right as the noise alone can drive people crazy. And I am not talking about the bird droppings yet."

So far, he has invested more than RM300,000 in the business.

Bird's nest: Finding the swift way to earn megabucks

2010/03/29
NST



Swiftlet breeding is a thriving business worth RM1.5 billion annually. The speed at which the industry has grown in the last few years poses a major dilemma for operators and the public due to the health risks, smell and noise. The government is now looking at giving the industry a much-needed framework to operate in a sustainable manner. CHUAH BEE KIM, ZAINUDDIN MUHAMMAD, M. HAMZAH JAMALUDIN, PATRICK SENNYAH and ROY GOH report.

Pix: A swiftlet hotel in Kuala Terengganu luring swiftlets with recorded sounds of female birds. — NST picture by Imran Makhzan

FROM caves at the Niah National Park and Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, swiftlet breeders have now taken their business into cities and towns nationwide.

Malaysia now has about 50,000 swiftlet premises producing more than 12 tonnes of bird's nest monthly. The current price of bird's nest is between RM3,000 and RM4,000 per kg, depending on the grade.

Operators are keeping their fingers crossed for government assistance to take the business to a higher level.

Those in Johor, for example, want the government's nod for export licences.

If this happens, they are geared up to put the country on the world map as the biggest exporter of bird's nest.

Those in Negri Sembilan want help in getting halal and Sirim certification as well as the internationally-recognised Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point certification for their products.

They are also hoping to get the government's assistance to set up a research and development facility to enhance the quality and variety of the products.

Datuk Saipolbahari Suib, adviser to Persatuan Pengusaha Industri Sarang Burung Kulai, is confident the industry can achieve the dream if they are given the opportunity to export their harvest.

"Currently, we are sending the bird's nests to Indonesia for processing as we do not have the plants here. If the government can set up processing plants in every district, we will be able to do everything locally and export the products."

Saipolbahari, who is also chairman of JB Bird Nest Resources Sdn Bhd, hopes the government will give a grant of RM400,000 for the setting up of processing centres in every district.

"I am optimistic that we can make it big in the global market as the quality of our nests is one of the best in the market."

In Johor alone, there are about 5,000 bird's nest traders.

Negri Sembilan Association of Bird's Nest Traders president Datuk Lee Yuen Fong says there are about 40,000 breeders nationwide, of which 95 per cent are operating without licences.

"The reason for this is that there is still plenty of red tape and we hope this problem will be ironed out soon."

He says because it is a multimillion-ringgit industry, there are many unscrupulous parties trying to cash in on it.

"Another issue plaguing the industry is smuggling."

Complaints against the swiftlet industry are numerous -- noise pollution is a common gripe of anyone living next to a "swiftlet hotel".

To lure the birds, which breed in colonies, recorded sounds of chirping females are played constantly on speakers.

Saipolbahari says responsible breeders follow the guidelines set by the
Veterinary Services Department, where only a sound level of 40 decibels is permitted.

"Errant traders who do not follow this guideline should have their licences revoked."

Another concern is bird flu. However, Saipolbahari says swiftlets are the cleanest birds around.

"Moreover, the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species had carried out research on swiftlets in 2005 and the birds are not the species that cause bird flu."

Saipolbahari says swiftlet breeding is a godsend to many, especially during the economic downturn, as buildings which have been abandoned or cannot be rented out are revived when swiftlet breeders come in.

Bird nest industry catching up in the peninsula

Published: Monday March 29, 2010 MYT 10:55:00 AM
Updated: Monday March 29, 2010 MYT 10:58:20 AM
The Star


ALOR SETAR: The bird nest industry so far has been the domain of entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak but the billion dollar industry is now slowly picking up in Peninsula.

Realising of the huge potential, a businessman in Alor Setar, Datuk Mohd Yusof Ismail without hesitation invested millions of ringgit in the swiftlet nest industry that is synonymous with the Chinese community.

Mohd Yusof noted that he became interested in the venture after a casual meeting with the chairman of the Federation of Bird Nest Traders Associations, Datuk Paduka Beh Heng Seong, in Sitiawan, Perak in 2008.

“It started as a casual conversation but after hearing Beh’s explanation on the lucrative returns from the bird nest industry, I was convinced that I should give a try.

“Several of my friends who were already in the industry also gave me encouragement saying that the risks on investment are low and also asked me to attend courses related to the field,” said Mohd Yusof, the managing director of Kumpulan Usima.

An initial investment of RM1mil to build two four-storey swiftlet farms in Kuala Rompin, Pahang early last year saw good returns within six months.

“This gave me the confidence to invest another RM2.5mil to build five more swiftlet farms in Jerlun, Kubang Rotan, Kuala Sanglang, Padang Sera and Tebengau respectively. The farms were completed recently.

“Though in Kuala Rompin alone there are more than 100 swiftlet farms, there is still room for competition and only that the startup cost is high,” noted Mohd Yusof in an interview with Bernama here.

The first harvest after six months recorded almost RM10,000 for each farm and one can expect the same returns for the first three years.

Normally, the harvesting is done once every two or three months. After three years, the returns may go up or down depending on the number of birds nesting there.

“Based on my experience, each farm can produce up to 3kg of bird nest and their market value is between RM3,600 and RM4,000 per kg for the unprocessed nest and the processed ones can fetch twice more.

“Currently the bird nests are sold raw as there is no expertise to process them,” said Mohd Yusof who has a list of regular buyers.

According to Mohd Yusof, the revenue would be affected at times when the birds migrate but there are ways to entice them to continue staying in their farms.

The design of the nesting building especially the entrance helps in retaining the birds along with the right temperature and level of humidity within and the calls to lure in the swiftlets, he said.

"It is not difficult to take care of the birds and there is no need to feed them. The only problem is that the nests get stolen even before the owners can harvest them.

“There was one I found a rope used to climb into one of the swiftlet farm building in Kuala Rompin. It is definitely the work of those in the know,” he said.

Lizards, ants and other insects too pose a threat especially when the birds are brooding but these pests can be rid off with the right pesticide.

However, the swiftlets are sensitive to the presence of owls that often eat their young when the adult birds leave the nest at night to look for food.

“I’m planning to open a bird nest exhibition room within the next four or five years when my business expands,” he said.

Mohd Yusof noted that he is willing to share his expertise with those keen to venture into this field which still has room for more participants.

He advised those lacking in capital to consider establishing a consortium to venture into this lucrative industry.

Meanwhile, Beh noted that the bird nest industry in bMalaysia has a bright future looking at the demand and the price of the product.

“The bird nests from Malaysia is highly sought after in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea, surpassing the demand for nests from Thailand and Indonesia, two of the world’s biggest bird nest producers,” he told Bernama. -- Bernama

Bird's nest: Telling the real from the fake

2010/03/29
NST



NEGRI Sembilan Association of Bird's Nest Traders president Datuk Lee Yuen Fong says edible bird's nest is among the most expensive animal products in the world and has been used in traditional Chinese cooking for almost half a decade.

"The nests are composed of interwoven strands of salivary laminae cement and have high levels of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. The male swiftlet builds the nest, which is shaped like a shallow cup and is stuck to the walls of buildings and caves."

Lee says the nests are harvested thrice a year, with each harvest lasting up to three months.

He says swiftlets are monogamous birds and both partners take part in caring for the nestlings. The average lifespan of a swiftlet is between 15 and 18 years.

He says there is an increasing number of fake bird's nests making their way into the market. But anyone who is familiar with the product will be able to tell the difference.

"For one, swiftlets build their nests from their saliva, which is formed into strands. These strands can be detached into layers when soaked in plain water and, as a result, will be of different lengths and sizes. Fake ones will be perfect in size."

He also says the genuine bird's nest should be able to expand to double its size after being soaked and cooked.

Bird's nest: Sabah needs guidelines

NST
2010/03/29




SABAH may be one of the biggest natural producers of edible bird's nest but when it comes to farming the delicacy, it is in its infancy.

Fewer than 100 people are licensed to trade in the nests throughout the state.

State Wildlife Department director Laurentius Ambu believes the industry will grow as more research is carried out and expertise comes in.

"There are signs of swiftlet hotel operators improving their earnings and having better farming techniques to spur the industry to greater heights.

"(In Sabah), there are issues that need to be addressed," says Ambu, who has conducted research in bird's nest farming for nearly a decade.

At present, there are no regulations to guide and monitor bird's nest farming. On top of that, there are negative perceptions about the birds and the business, he adds.




In the state, there are three key natural cave systems where swiftlets thrive. They are the Gomantong, Baturong and Madai caves.

"Gomantong is a government-owned cave while Baturong and Madai are considered heritage caves where the bird's nest trade is operated by the community.

"The three caves produce up to 20 tonnes of bird's nests, about a third of which are the white nests while the rest are black nests," says Ambu.

There are no statistics on how much money it brings to the state but as far as Gomantong is concerned, the contract for harvesting bird's nest comes with a reserve price of about RM20 million.

Ambu explains that the contract is tendered out to licensed contractors twice a year and the highest bidder gets the harvesting rights.

"For Baturong and Madai caves, it is governed by native laws."

The only law that covers bird's nest in Sabah is the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, which provides that anyone in possession of bird's nest or selling it without a permit from the Wildlife Department can be fined. Also, in major towns here, bird's nest farming is not allowed because it is illegal to "run a farm in an urban area".

"The solution is for the government, the local authorities in particular, to determine certain zones where it can or cannot be done. With this and better technology, I am sure the industry can grow," Ambu adds.

Sabah Swiftlet House and Bird's Nest Industry Association president George Ng Aun Heng agrees.



"Certain areas, like housing estates, may not be suitable for swiftlet farming but what about abandoned buildings? It can also be done at oil palm plantations or other big areas.



"If the government can come up with guidelines, I am sure farmers are willing to comply because this is a lucrative trade which requires a substantial amount of capital.

"There are negative perceptions, probably spread by people who are envious of the success of others, and most of them are untrue."

Ng says there are ways to minimise the noise and the smell at farms.

"It's a matter of educating the public and those who want to venture into the trade but, at the same time, we need commitment from the government because at the end of the day, it's the state that will benefit."

For that, the association, formed six months ago and which now has about 40 members, is on a drive to teach people about proper bird's nest farming techniques, apart from lobbying the government to introduce proper guidelines.

Potential RM2b yearly from S’wak swiftlets

Potential RM2b yearly from S’wak swiftlets


Borneo Post
by Churchill Edward
March 16, 2010, Tuesday



LUNDU: Sarawak has the potential to contribute up to RM2 billion to the country’s total yearly production of bird’s nest by 2020.

Malaysia as a whole produced 250 tonnes of bird’s nest (from 50,000 birdhouses) worth RM1 billion in 2008 alone.

Yesterday, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman, Datuk Talib Zulpilip expressed optimism that the country would be able to produce an annual RM5 billion worth of bird’s nests with Sarawak contributing RM2 billion yearly by 2020.

When closing a swiftlet farming and marketing strategy course at Sematan community hall here yesterday, Talib said, “Malaysia, in 2008, produced 250 tonnes of swiftlet bird’s nests worth about RM1 billion which also involved 50,000 birdhouses.”

“It is our (government) hope that by 2020, the country would be able to produce a yearly RM5 billion worth of bird’s nests weighing 500 tonnes involving 100,000 birdhouses. The source of this information came from Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Noh Omar,” said Talib who is also State Assistant Minister of Tourism and Heritage.

He said Bumiputera involvement in this industry is still low at less than 10 per cent, according to statistics in 2009.

“With such a scenario, Bumiputera involvement in this industry is still very low and lagging far behind compared with that of the non-Bumiputera sector which controlled about 90 per cent of the total industry. We hope local Bumiputera involvement will be greater after we (SEDC) provide training and courses to encourage their participation,” he stressed.

He said, with yesterday’s one-day course, folks in Sematan could see the potential of this industry and tap the golden opportunities afforded by it. He stressed that the industry is a real income generator.

A kilogramme of bird’s nests depending on its grade, could fetch RM4,500 to RM6,500 in the local market while the price could increase to between RM6,000 and RM12,000 (world market).

The highest the price per kilogramme has gone up is from RM12,000 to RM24,000, Talib said when pointing out that entrepreneurs have nothing to fear when it comes to business returns and turnover.

He said one can browse www.gemsb.voc.com to find out the details on farming and marketing of swiftlet bird’s nests.

However, he said, this industry would require a big capital outlay if one wants to start big and get handsome returns. Talib stressed that he was confident the capital issue could be overcome by engaging the assistance of government agencies.

As far as Bumiputera entrepreneurs are concerned, Talib said he hoped they would expand their businesses in the global arena instead of just being contented with local businesses.

Talib pointed out that rodents are potential pests of bird’s nests and that firecrackers are not only scary but could disturb the mating season of swiftlets.

Recently the Sarawak government had entrusted SEDC to set up a Swiftlet Birds Eco Park, according to a press statement delivered to the media during the closing ceremony.

The Eco Park will be the first of its kind in Sarawak and it is to be located at come from overhauling the university’s teaching activities to make graduates more commercially viable.

“Undergrad curricula will be revamped, in which information technology and sciences will include a component of business, so that from the beginning students think about how to turn technology into money. They will learn how to manage innovation, technology and services.

“It’s not like them doing an MBA per se, but having knowledge on bringing technology to market.”

On this note, UKM had also set up its vehicle Technology Transfer to turn R&D into products and businesses, as well as a Centre for Collaborative Innovation (CCI) together with the US-based Stevens Institute of Technology, both aimed at enhancing human capital development and creating innovations for wealth generation.

Similarly, Universiti Malaya (UM) had been forging direct ties between business and education, according to its vice-chancellor Ghauth Jasmon. He added that there was the need to develop an entrep­reneurial culture in Malay-sia towards capitalising its local skills to the fullest.

“The main challenge is Malaysian academics themselves. The culture is not there, as they are pure academics, and are content with research and teaching. They must be encouraged to be enterprising,” OBG cited Jasmon.

“While the culture may still be lagging somewhat, UM is moving forward by working with a Singaporean company to market and commercialise patents from some of the university’s research. In addition, the university has set up a Centre of Innovation and Commercialisation that facilitates its inventors and academicians to actualise their ideas, concepts and research products for viable commercialisation.”

Moreover, OBG underlined that under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the government had made building this culture a top priority. In this respect, the government was initialising a series of reforms aimed at developing a higher-value and higher-skill economy that was on par with other high-income countries across a range of sectors.

The recent launching of this year’s Innovative Malaysia campaign highlighted this initiative, according to OBG.

In reference to the Prime Minister, OBG mentioned that the country needed intellectual input and the latest technology towards its goal to achieve a new economic model based on knowledge and innovation.

“The government initiative is timely,” said Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Innovation and Commercialisation Centre director Mohamed Shariff Mohamed Din, as cited by OBG.

He further stressed on the importance of producing more inventors, especially among the younger generation, to help the nation’s Vision 2020.

“If we do not change now, our country will be left behind in various aspects. Look at developed nations like Japan, Korea, the US and the European countries. They progressed because of innovation. If we are not innovative, we will be left behind.”

Meanwhile, OBG mentioned that as the government would continue its commitment on higher education, rising demands for funds could mean a smaller slice of the budgetary pie for private universities, as acknowledged by Universiti Tenaga Nasional’s (Uniten) vice-chancellor Mashkuri Yaacob.

“Research and development has to play a bigger role as government funds will not continue forever, this needs to become a separate revenue generator.”

As such, Mashkuri revealed that the university was focusing on renewable energy by establishing Unitem R&D, a company to commercialise its research work, notably in areas such as wind, solar and biodiesel.

“The purpose is to be a solutions provider to the industry, so we established the new Energy Policy and Research Institute to focus on renewable energy.

“Malaysia wants to reduce by 40 per cent its carbon emissions and needs a lot of efforts to meet industry needs. This is changing the role of educational institutions.”

Be fair in crackdown on illegal swiftlet farmers: SAPP leader

Borneo Post
March 10, 2010, Wednesday




KOTA KINABALU: City Hall must be fair when taking action against those who operate illegal swiftlet farming activities in the state capital.“How is it possible that action was taken against a swiftlet farmer in Inanam this month, but three similar activities are allowed to flourish in the city itself?” SAPP Api Api Central Liaison Committee (CLC) chairman.Datuk David Chong asked.

According to Chong, on March 2 this year, City Hall together with the State Wildlife Department took action against a swiftlet farmer who operated in farm in a three storey shoplot in Inanam.

There were similar activities in the city itself, but City Hall has turned a blind eye to what they are doing, he said, claiming that the illegal swiflet farming activities being carried out in Jalan Pantai, Australia street and Gaya street.

“By allowing them to continue operating showed that City Hall condoned such activities in the city area, but not in the outskirts.

“The question here is why is the swiftlet farmer in Inanam victimised? If City Hall is taking action against those in Inanam, then it must do the same for those in the city…. it must be fair,” he said.

Chong also said according to City Hall’s licensing unit, those who want to convert their shop lots for swiflet breeding must apply with it to have the licence changed.

The activity was deemed illegal if the person did not receive any approval, he said, adding that the Wildlife Department also confirmed that an approval from the department to carry out the activity must be obtained failing which the offender could be fined RM50,000.
He also hoped that the relevant authorities would not approve licences for swiftlet farming in densely populated areas like the cities because it would not only disrupt business, but also posed a health risk to the public.

Money on wings

Borneo Post
by Wilson Luke
February 28, 2010, Sunday


On average, unprocessed bird’s nests can fetch RM4,000 per kg, meaning the industry can generate RM48 million a month.


A lucrative business to venture into at the moment maybe just flying around the corner.

Trading in bird’s nests has found a niche in the market after it began more than a century ago with the first recorded harvesting being carried out at the Niah Caves in 1878.

Indonesia was the first nation to commercialise the commodity due to its high value globally.

However, in the late 1990s when the haze blanketted the Southeast Asian region, most of the birds from Indonesia migrated across the border to Sarawak and the peninsula.

That was when Loh Siaw Kuei, a third generation supplier of local bird’s nests, started to take interest in swiflets ranching.

He recalled previously, they had to rely on suppliers from Niah in Miri before they could process and export the commodity mainly to China.

According to him, the old processing method left behind a lot of impurities, and supplies from the harvesters were also inconsistent.

In 2000, he decided to venture into swiftlets ranching and he put up a building just outside the city for the purpose.

“I started with an investment of RM30,000,” said Loh, arguably a local pioneer in modern swiftlets ranching.

He forked out another RM10,000 to buy the equipment needed to attract the swiftlets.

Being new to the venture, he sought help from friends and business partners in the peninsula who had started much earlier.

“It was truly by trial and error,” Loh said, adding that he started almost from scratch and persevered for more than five years before seeing the fruit of his labour.

Now, Loh has five ‘bird houses’ in Kuching and Samarahan.

“If the bird house turns out to be good, you can expect about 100 to 300 nests in the first year,” he said.

According to him, to be a successful swiftlets farmer, the three most important criteria are (1) getting started; (2) waiting (patiently) for the swiftlets to build their nests and (3) be innovative and constantly upgrading the farm with knowledge and technology.

It is estimated there are 1,000 bird houses in Sarawak and presently, about 10,000 buildings are used as swiftlet ranches nationwide, producing roughly 12 tonnes of bird’s nests monthly to which Sarawak contributes some five tones.

Presently, Loh obtains a lot of supplies from the Sarawak Bird’s Nests Merchant Association (SBNMA) of which he is president.

On average, unprocessed bird’s nests can fetch RM4,000 per kg, depending on the graded quality. This means the industry is capable of generating RM48 million a month.

Although Mukah is the main centre for swiftlets ranching, other areas with their own potential are Kuching, Bintulu, Sarikei and Sibu.

Basically, there are two types of products — cave bird’s nests and house bird’s nests.

According to Loh, not many bird’s nests are obtained from caves after the introduction of bird houses.

“The nests from bird houses are much cleaner and more hygienic compared to those produced in caves.”

The two swiflets species producing the edible bird’s nests are collocolia fuciphaga/aerodramus fuciphagus (AF) and collocolia maxima/aerodramus maximus (AM) found mostly in Malaysia at present.

The bird house has to be insulated and properly ventilated with the temperature kept below 30 degrees Celcius for the swiftlets to stay and breed.

Under normal circumstances, a pair produces two eggs per season — and three times in a year. If the bird house is conducive, by the 10th year, the total number of swiftlets could exceed 700,000 pairs with an estimated population of 1.5 million.

Although on paper, this may look impressive but in reality, it might not be accurate. However, even achieving only half the population figure would be regarded as a success.

A female swiftlet remains productive for 10 to 15 years and can live up to 25 years.

Bird’s nests are used in medicine, cosmetics and the food-based industry, worth RM1.5 billion annually in Malaysia through the export of raw bird’s nests, especially to China.

Recently, there was proposal to launch a multi-million ringgit swiftlets eco park in Sarawak to accommodate the thriving local bird’s nests industry.

So far, seven sites have been identified around Kuching, Sarikei, Bintulu and Mukah.

The project involves the construction of terrace houses or shoplots for swiftlets farming and processing in a systematic and ecologically friendly manner.

For those interested in swiftlets ranching, the bird’s nests industry is under the purview of the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, Wildlife Protection (Edible Bird Nests) Rule 1998 and Wildlife Protection Rules 1998.

What this means is that the birds may live and be harvested with licence in their natural habitat such as cave dwellings but prohibited in urban or residential areas.

Rural areas could be bird’s nests goldmine

Borneo Post
February 24, 2010, Wednesday


LIMBANG: Rural areas could be a bird’s nests goldmine through the state government’s efforts to promote swiftlet rearing outside urban centres.Assistant Minister of Tourism and Heritage Datuk Talib Zulpilip said the industry has a bright future due to the lucrative returns and larger areas in villages to set up swiftlet nesting homes.

“The swiftlet industry has shifted out of town now and there is growing potential to expand this promising industry in villages and rural areas,” he said when officiating at the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) course on swiftlet rearing yesterday.

Among those present were Deputy Limbang Resident (Social Development) Stephen Kalong and Limbang District Council chairman Sufian Mohat.

Talib, who is also SEDC chairman, said Sarawak’s bird’s nests quality has long been renowned throughout the country and internationally, including in China, as experts recognize its special characteristics.

This presents many opportunities for those interested to diversify their economic activities, he said.

The huge demand for bird’s nests and vast agricultural land in the state, particularly outside urban centres, is a golden opportunity for Bumiputeras, he added.

Talib explained that although the start-up capital expenditure may vary between RM40,000 and RM50,000, the handsome returns made the investment worthwhile.

“A kilogramme, depending on the grade, can fetch between RM4,500 and RM6,500 locally, while the highest price is between RM12,000 and RM24,000,” he said.

He said more studies need to be carried out to further develop the industry.

Meanwhile, Bukit Kota assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, in his speech, called for greater local involvement in higher value economic programmes to enable locals to raise their household incomes.

This should be the trend of communities in Limbang district as the government through SEDC, he said, could assist through a host of economic development programmes.

“When the people’s income and economic standards rise, it will have a knock-on effect on the country’s economic growth,” he pointed out.

He said this is the rationale behind the government’s optimism in encouraging the people to be positive-minded and determined to succeed in various fields.

“The society generally is highly determined to take on various fields that promise good returns, including the lucrative swiftlets rearing industry,” he added.

Swiftlet rearing is taking off in stages in Lawas District.

Two hundred participants from Limbang, Lawas and Ba Kelalan attended the one-day course.

Lucrative but risky business

Wednesday January 13, 2010
The Star
By ANN TAN


THE bird nest industry may be booming within the George Town heritage enclave but it is still a trade secret among breeders.

Association of Swiftlet Nests Industry (ASNI) president Carole Loh said there was no right formula in attracting the swiftlets and those who had found the technique would usually not teach others.


Loh looking up at the birds nests in one of the swiftlet houses in George Town.

“The business may look good on paper. It may bring high returns but it is a risky investment as the success rate is only 20% to 30%.

“To invest and buy a bird house, one has to obtain a bank loan as it involves a huge investment. Then, one may have to wait for up to three years before one can get some returns. So within this period, there is no income,” she said.

Loh said there were many cases where swiftlets had failed “set up shop” and the investors were forced to shut down because they were unable to service their bank loans.

“Swiftlets lay eggs three times a year and two eggs at a time. It takes between 30 and 45 days for them to build the nest and another 45 days for the chicks to mature,” she said.


A baby swiftlet in its nest.

“Prior to harvesting, the breeders must ensure that there are no eggs or chicks in it for them to have a chance to grow.

“The harvested bird nests are then soaked in water for it to expand so that the feathers and dirt could be separated. This is usually done by a middle man who would then sell the nutritious product to others.”

Eating the swiftlet’s nest is believed to help maintain skin tone, balance qi (life energy) and reinforce the immune system.

It is also believed to strengthen the lungs and prevent coughs, improve the constitution and prolong life.

Commenting on claims that the industry is health hazard and a threat to heritage, Loh said it was not justified to focus on a few errant swiftlet breeders.

“It has been estimated that at least 8.3% out of an estimated 3,500 abandoned pre-war buildings have been re-stored and rehabilitated by bird nest breeders.


Swiftlets flying to their nests on the ceiling beams.

“There are many swiftlet houses in pre-war buildings which have been beautifully restored in keeping with its heritage features,” she said.

A recent visit by The Star to the swiftlets’ breeding ground saw the houses well renovated and maintained. There was also no stagnant water in the premises as breeders used humidifier machines to control the humidity.

“Heritage has to be sustainable. It is not enough to have a heritage status if there are no businesses that will bring the right level of income to support and sustain heritage development,” she said.

On the matter of breeders using tweeters to attract the birds to the houses, Loh said the state government could come out with a directive to limit the decibel so that it would not disturb the neighbours.

“And the droppings that we see outside are actually that of the pigeons’ as swiftlets are very parti-cular and they only release their droppings in the house.

“The breeders clean the bird houses weekly as the swiftlets like a clean premises. The Health Department could issue breeders with a health certificate which can be revoked if the cleanliness is not maintained,” she said.

Terengganu to develop swiftlet industry

Wednesday January 13, 2010
The Star


KUALA TERENGGANU: The Tereng-ganu Veterinary Services Department will develop the swiftlet industry as an additional means of raising income especially for Malays.

Department director Dr Azizol Mohd Sharun said the number of Malays in this industry was low.

“In Terengganu, Malays make up only 21% of entrepreneurs in the swiftlet industry. We would like to encourage them and help more of them get involved in the industry,” he said.

The department would request RM300,000 in aid from the state, and include the poor in swiftlet farming projects, he added.

He said the department might also provide infrastructure such as bird houses estimated to cost between RM15,000 and RM100,000 each.

The initial harvest could bring in between RM400 and RM500, he added. — Bernama

Relief for Malacca swiftlet breeders

Tuesday December 29, 2009
The Star
By MARTIN CARVALHO and ALLISON LAI


MALACCA: Swiftlet breeders operating within the historic city’s World Heritage Site heritage zones can breath a sigh of relief — the state has decided to defer the Dec 31 deadline for them to vacate the area.

The reprieve is possible because state authorities are still waiting for guidelines on swiftlet breeding at the 18th century Dutch-styled homes in the city’s core heritage zones.

State Rural Development and Agriculture Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Hidhir Abu Hasan said the situation in Malacca was different from other parts of the country because of heritage concerns.

“Swiftlet breeding and bird’s nest harvesting are regulated by the Agriculture Department and the Veterinary Services Department.

“However, we also have to consider the heritage factor because there are breeders who operate within the heritage zones,” he said.

The state decided to defer the Dec 31 deadline until the Heritage Department issued the guidelines, he said, adding that plans for a proposed relocation site for the affected operators were also on hold.

There are some 100 swiftlet breeders registered with the Malacca Bird’s Nest Merchants Association, 17 of them operating in the heritage zones.

Meanwhile, Malacca Historic City Council mayor Datuk Yusof Jantan said no new licence would be issued for those intending to convert their homes into bird breeding places in the heritage zones.

He noted that the city’s heritage zones were of particular concern to heritage authorities as they belonged to the world in general owing to its WHS status.

Malacca Bird’s Nest Merchants Association president John Chen Joon Onn said he was relieved to learn of the deferred deadline.

“The members in the heritage zones have been worried as their status remained unclear over the last several months despite several meetings with officials here.

“They were told to wait but no deadline was given,” he said.

He hoped that the Heritage Department would allow the present operators to remain in the area as a way to preserve the city’s swiftlet population.

“The birds have been a part of the historic city’s skyline over the past few centuries, even before the streets were built.

“If we get rid of them, we will also be destroying part of the city’s living heritage,” he said.

Locally harvested bird’s nests can fetch between RM1,500 and RM5,000 per kg depending on quality.

Bird’s nest harvesting has spawned a thriving industry, including manufacturing of canned drinks for the local and export markets.

Swiftlets part of inner city’s heritage, say breeders

Sunday December 27, 2009
The Star


GEORGE TOWN: Swiftlets have been part of inner George Town even before the area was granted Unesco World Heritage status, according to Association of Swiftlet Nest Industry (ASNI) president Carole Loh.

“These birds are Penang’s ‘living heritage’, and the fact that George Town was granted the status despite their existence means they have no impact on Unesco’s decision,

“It is not fair for the state government to force the breeders to move when they were permitted to operate under the 2005 guidelines for the Application of Licence for Birds Nest Industry, Penang,” she said yesterday.

Loh was commenting on Friday’s report stating that the one-year extension given to swiftlet breeders in Penang to continue their operation until next December would jeopardise George Town’s heritage status.

Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) president Khoo Salma Nasution had said that the state government’s decision to extend the moratorium on the breeders would be a breach of Unesco’s heritage management guidelines.

However, Loh explained that it was a misconception that swiftlets’ droppings would destroy the facade of heritage buildings as they only defecated inside the bird houses.

PHT: Nay to more time for breeders

Friday December 25, 2009
The Star
By WINNIE YEOH


THE one-year extension given to swiftlet breeders in Penang to continue their operation until next December will jeopardise George Town’s heritage status and its living heritage.

Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) president Khoo Salma Nasution said the state government’s decision to extend the moratorium on the breeders would be a breach of Unesco’s heritage management guidelines as building guidelines and by-laws would be violated.

She explained that a swiftlet breeding house required the gutting of its interior that would destroy the heritage quality.

It was reported recently that the state executive council made the decision in its meeting on Dec 16.

Picture above: file photo of swiftlets returning to roost at dusk in a pre-war building in Penang.

Cultural Heritage Advisory Team educationist Janet Pillai said a research conducted by Universiti Sains Malaysia and PHT showed that there were some 141 swiftlet breeding houses in the heritage core zone.

“These numbers do not include those in the buffer zone,” she said.

“Of the 141, 116 are heritage shophouses, 23 commercial buildings and two of unknown status.

“Only 26 are operating with licences and from October last year to this October, the Penang Municipal Council’s Building Department had issued 30 notices.

“There were eight proposals to demolish the illegal structures but only two were demolished,” she said.

She added that a report complete with statistics would be sent to the state and the National Heritage Department.

Pillai said the breeding houses usually required indoor pools to maintain humidity. This posed a serious dengue threat from mosquitos breeding in the pools while the noise from electrical tweeters was a nuisance.

Also, rodents and vermins thrived in such an environment.

“A harvest from an active bird house could rake in about RM30,000 each time,” she added.

One more year

Wednesday December 23, 2009
The Star


SWIFLET breeders in Penang can continue their operation for another year as the state government has decided to extend the moratorium on the breeders till December next year.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the state executive council made the decision in its meeting on Dec 16.

In a statement, he said the state Veterinary Services Department and the Town and Country Planning Department were still preparing guidelines on the National Swiflet Industry.

“The state government has been advised to postpone the implementation of the guidelines until the Cabinet approves the National Swiflet Industry guidelines,” he said.

In December last year, the state government announced that the breeders could continue their operation for another year as it has extended the three-year moratorium which would expire at the end of the month.

State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said the extension would enable the state to review the current industry policies and guidelines.

He said breeders in George Town’s heritage area must stop playing the swiftlet song recordings and also tear down all illegal extensions during the period.

'Tap swiftlets potential'

NST
2009/12/04


A STATE assemblyman yesterday proposed a novel way to help sundry shop operators adversely affected by the influx of hypermarkets.
In debating the state 2010 Budget, Tee Siew Kiong (BN-Pulai Sebatang) said the government could kill two birds with one stone by allowing those affected to turn their premises into swiftlet hotels for bird nest farming.

He made the suggestion following the closure of many sundry shops which had failed to compete with hypermarkets, whose number was mushrooming in the state.

"Sundry shop operators stand to lose when pitched against hypermarkets as the latter have the capital to buy stocks in bulk and resell them at a much lower price than sundry shops," he said.

By allowing and assisting the operators to turn their premises into swiftlet hotels, Tee said this would allow them to continue to earn a decent living.

"Bird's nest has a huge and lucrative market in China, Hong Kong and other international places, so I urge the government to give it special attention and tap its potential," he said.

Tee said he was thankful to the state government for bringing the matter to the Federal Government's attention.

However, he said there was a need to have guidelines to govern swiftlet hotels which have become the subject of criticism by some residents because of noise pollution and hygiene problems.

He said banks had also become aware of the potential of the industry and had started to finance such ventures.

"It could be very beneficial to the state economy as Malaysia exported RM1 billion worth of bird's nest last year, which was equivalent to five per cent of the world market for the product," he said.

Tee also urged the government to simplify bird's nest exports and swiftlet hotel licensing so that the industry could grow even faster in the state.