Wildlife Dept to head panel on swiftlet farming

April 28, 2010, Wednesday


KOTA KINABALU: The Tourism, Environment and Culture Ministry has made a provision of RM100,000 to facilitate a detailed study by a steering committee tasked with preparing a comprehensive set of guidelines for swiftlets farming in Sabah.Disclosing this yesterday, the minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun, said the chairman of the committee shall be from the Department of Wildlife, which according to him is more practical.



The result of the study would be used to formulate an overall set of guidelines on the administration and management of swiflet farming activities in the state.



An important component of the committee, he said, would be representatives from the local authorities that are responsible for the proper use of shops and other commercial buildings.



“The issue that is most important, is not what or whether to have swiftlets farming, it is the issue of where to have such an enterprise,” he added.



“When the issue is wealth creation, then what is the purpose of it in the first place if such wealth creation opportunities make some other people’s life a misery? “For instance, if a swiflet farm were located next to a hotel, then the hotel owners would be at a disadvantage,” he explained.



The Wildlife Department that is responsible for the harvest of birds’ nests produced by natural swiftlets at caves in Sabah under a set of rules and regulations comes under the ministry.



Lately, there had been a public debate on swiflets farming as a lucrative enterprise under controlled environment.



The State Government recently ruled that such activities should be kept away from cities, towns and densely populated areas.



The matter was also brought up for discussion on several occasions during the State Legislative Assembly sessions last week when a government member stated that the government had no intention to curb or deter the growth of swiftlet farming.



Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim has also stressed that swiftlet farming must not be carried out in commercial areas and cannot operate in shop houses.



In an interview yesterday, Masidi noted that the government had spent a lot to turn the state capital into “a very liveable city”.



“We are not going to allow the farming of swiflets to turn the City of Kota Kinabalu into a Gotham City of Batsman.



Moreover, he pointed out, downtown KK is also along the flight path.



This being the case, it would be a big risk if large colonies of swiflets were invited into the city centre as a result of such farms.



“These birds could become a hazard for the planes that fly past the city for landing at the KKIA,” he said.



In his winding up speech at the Assembly meeting last Thursday, Masidi had said that the state government would ensure that the development of swiflet farming is controlled.



The minister said that in terms of regulations, the relevant government agencies would see to it that the farming activities would not affect the natural population of swiflets in the state.



“At the same time, the farming activities should not put at risk the people’s health, especially those living close to the building where birds are reared,” he had said

Belaga settlers venture into gaharu, swiftlet farming: Huge Potential

BELAGA: Settlers from Lepo’ Badeng Sungai Koyan in Belaga, Kapit yesterday ventured into a high potential agriculture namely the cultivation of gaharu or agarwood and swiftlet farming. TAKING PART IN PROGRAMME: Kazuhiko (seated right) and Nyurang (seated left) pose with the programme committee after the ceremony.

Badeng community through Syarikat Baro Brothers Enterprise signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mikuni Biotech & Life Science (M) Sdn Bhd (MBL), a subsidiary of Mikuni (M) Sdn Bhd to develop the high potential agricultural system as part of poverty eradication programme for the community in Sungai Asap.

“The programme is part of our company corporate social responsibility (CSR) to empower community and Belaga district with the means to be involved and improve their socio-economic development which had been affected due to construction of Bakun dam project,” Kazuhiko told The Borneo Post after the ceremony. Through the programme it is hoped that settlers and Belaga in general will be economically independent through the natural resources such as agarwood and swiftlets, Kazuhiko added.

Kazuhiko disclosed that Mikuni Biotech & Life Science will be providing technologies and knowledge to the community to make traditional gaharu or agarwood plantation internationally acceptable by controlling quality of wood and products. It is important that international traders make commitment for long-term basis with more controlled quality of woods. “The programme is also to develop and export new agarwood-elated products including seed and sidling export from the state of Sarawak in more organised way.

“Through research and development, we are hoping to develop other new ethnic products (herbal medicine) acceptable to international market,” said Kazuhiko. The company will support swiftlet farming or industries by providing basic information and ‘music’ box to invite swiftlets to the house.

The programme or the system, Kazuhiko said will be able to generate income from the bird’s nest export to the international market. Similar swiftlet project is now being promoted in Mukah by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC). Similar method will be applied by the company for another product to generate income to the Belaga district and community.

“By realising all these, we will continue to support Belaga district and its community in economical manner (not political) by receiving full support from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu Campus, so that they can contribute and play direct and active role in socio-economic development of their own community and Belaga in general,” he added. Kazuhiko believed and was confident that Belaga district could create own influence to Sarawak and the community economic development through cultivation of agarwood and swiftlet farming.

Settler Okang Lepun when asked for comment on the programme said: “I believe that they (agarwood and swiftlet) will be able to improve our economic stand. “Some of us have been collecting agarwood from the jungle before. The production is only in small scale and not lucrative enough as we don’t know and don’t have the technology.” According to Okang, they have been traditionally collecting agarwood from the area.

However, the activity has been almost put to a stop or reduced following the clearing of the jungles in giving way to the construction of Bakun dam. Okang believed that other settlers from other resettlement in Belaga would also be interested in the cultivation of agarwood and swiftlet farming.

RM40m swiftlet farm for Sarawak coastal town

By Desmond Davidson news@nst.com.my

KUCHING: The State Economic Development Corporation and Borneo Resource Synergy Sdn Bhd will jointly develop Sarawak's first swiftlet eco-park in the coastal town of Balingian in Mukah division. Yesterday, SEDC and BRS inked a RM40 million joint- venture agreement to develop the park at a site 15km from Balingian. They are hoping to start operations by next year.

SEDC will hold 20 per cent of the equity with the remainder held by BRS. The project would involve the construction of 40 three-storey terrace houses, measuring 20ft by 80ft, and 15 three-storey bungalow units, measuring 35ft by 63ft on an 8-ha site exclusively for the swiftlets. "This (eco-park) will be the start of an orderly, large and systematic development of the bird's nest industry in Sarawak," SEDC chairman Datuk Talip Zulpilip, who witnessed the signing, said.

Talip, who is also the state's assistant minister of tourism and heritage, said SEDC would also be on the lookout for other partners to open more such parks in other parts of the state. Bird's nest farming is a lucrative investment. One kilogramme of unprocessed bird's nest currently fetches between RM4,000 and RM5,000.

This lucrative return is the reason why many entrepreneurs in the state wanted to invest in bird's nest farming, Talip said. However, many started their swiftlet farms by converting empty shoplots in urban and residential areas into birdhouses which contravened the Wildlife Protection (Edible Bird's Nest) Rules 2006. This had resulted in a crackdown by the authorities that saw swiftlet farms in urban and residential areas either had to be moved out or shut down.

In a statement released at the signing, SEDC said it had been tasked by the government to spearhead a "well-planned, sustainable and eco-friendly swiftlet farming industry in the state". It added that JV projects, like the one with BRS, would provide alternative venues to swiftlet farmers who were affected by the government's directive to shift their operation to approved sites.

BRS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a peninsula-based company, Masmeyer Holdings Sdn Bhd. Masmeyer's principal businesses are property development and investment holding. The services of Golden Swift Resources Sdn Bhd, a swiftlet farming expert, will be sought for their technical know-how.

SEDC also disclosed that it had been given approval to turn eight lots of 27.93ha in Mukah division into a swiftlet farm.

Swiftlet farming ban to be expanded in Sabah

by Sandra Sokial April 10, 2010, Saturday

KOTA KINABALU: Banning swiftlet farming will be expanded to other towns in Sabah, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said yesterday.The move was made following the state government’s decision to ban the rearing of swiftlets within the city as well as in Sandakan and Tawau areas due to its environmental effects, as well as being a public nuisance.

“With the banning issued by the state government, we hope the relevant authorities would act immediately to warn swiftlet farm owners to stop operating in these areas,” he said. Speaking to reporters after witnessing the swearing-in of the new Board of Directors of the Housing and Town Development Board here, he said action would be taken against those who fail to adhere to the regulations.

“We are not against swiflet farming. It can be done but not in the city or town or highly populated areas. “The state government is also aware that there is a national guideline on swiftlet rearing and we will be issuing it soon,” he said. Asked on whether there is any time frame for swiftlet farming owners to vacate the premises, Hajiji said he would leave it to the local authorities to handle.

Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai when announcing the State Cabinet decision on Wednesday stressed the banning should not be viewed as a discouragement to the swiftlet or bird’s nest farming industry. “On the contrary, the state government encouraged the rearing of swiftlets as an industry, but operators must do it in areas with low density such as in rural places.

“We know the outlook for the swiftlet industry is very good but we must consider public complaint  hence, we believe it will be more appropriate when done in rural areas,” he said.

Swiftlet farmer: Allow swiftlet farming in towns

April 9, 2010, Friday

KOTA KINABALU: Swiftlet farming in town areas should be allowed as it is accepted in many major townships in Malaysia.A swiftlet farmer, George Ng, in stressing this said the Sabah government should take heed of the federal government’s guideline on swiftlet farming, adding towns such as Ipoh, Johor Bahru and others in Peninsular Malaysia are successfully doing it.



“I do not understand why major towns like Sandakan or Tawau or KK cannot do it?” said Ng, who responded to a statement by Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai on the banning of swiftlet farming in towns and cities. Yee, in the statement said the ban was due to the effect of swiftlet farming on health and environment.

Ng said currently they were waiting for guidelines from the federal government to share knowledge with the state government on proper swiftlet farming practices.

“If the state government bans swiftlet farming within the town areas, how can we, the owners, kill the birds because it is against the law? “Birds are not like furniture that can be easily moved from one place to another,” said Ng.


He pointed out that even the World Health Organisation had given the green light to swiftlet farming in town areas, adding: “So how can the state government use this as a reason to disallow us to do such farming in the city area?” He stressed that other birds, such as pigeons, which are mostly found at Gaya Street, are even dirtier and noisier at night. “Most swiftlet farms in town area use music to attract these birds to return ‘home’ but it will be turned off at 7.30pm.

“I think even the karaoke centres are more noisier than our music,” he said when contacted yesterday.



Meanwhile, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Supreme Councilor Datuk David Chong, in a statement here yesterday said the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) was applying double standards when it came to swiftlet farming. He said City Hall had closed down a swiftlet farm in Inanam but allowed at least two similar farms downtown.

“There are swiftlet farms right under the nose of DBKK but they never took action despite numerous complaints,” he said adding one such farm was found at Gaya Street and another at Lorong Dewan which was close to the Community Centre.

Edible bird’s nests show vast promise as money spinner in Sarawak

THE bird’s nests industry in the country is relatively under-tapped albeit enterprising people are already dabbling into the bird-ranging business both for local consumption and export.  Clearly, it’s the recognition of the commodity’s vast commercial potential that has sparked the first foray into swiftlets-farming in Sarawak where the climate and environment are conducive.

Further studies and research are, of course, needed by prospective investors on the best method to develop the industry. Presently, bird-ranging is carried out either through the use of private dwellings or abandoned properties or properly-designated localities away from population centres or housing estates or commercial areas.

Properly planned and implemented, the production of edible bird’s nests can be a lucrative business, and as such, steps should be taken to encourage and facilitate the development and growth of the industry within acceptable environmental parameters.

The industry has the potential to earn Malaysia foreign exchange from countries that are traditionally major consumers of edible bird’s nests. Many Malaysians too consume the delicacy for its much-touted health benefits.

Perhaps plots of land away from the urban scene could be allocated to regulate (and boost) the industry. Clearly, there is a need for proper planning and management. Furthermore, the quality of products both for the domestic market as well as export should never be compromised.

In some countries, production of bird’s nests has already been commercialised in a big way, and potential rearers are even taught how to go about the business.  Other essentials should include commercialised scientific farming methods, specialised apparatus, mechanisms and techniques, managed sustainable harvesting of nests, provision of a safe and secure nesting habitat and a conducive environment to maximise avian population, and safe collection of nests.

Hopefully, the existing bird-nest farmers will work more closely with the local authorities to ensure the smooth development and flourishing of the industry by using the most appropriate methods that respect not only the need to preserve the environment but also the privacy of citizens living in nearby localities where such operation is being undertaken.

Whether approval can be given for the conversion of abandoned and even purpose-built buildings or floor spaces into the productive swiftlets-breeding houses is a matter for further study. However, two immediate pre-requisites are proper control and supervision to avoid unnecessary nuisances, inconveniences and negative impacts on the neighbourhoods.

Thus, with due emphasis on proper management, the potential of the bird’s nests industry could be tapped and promoted as a new agricultural resource to complement rubber and palm oil for the benefit of the country’s economy. Efforts should, therefore, be made to increase production and supply to meet the ever-increasing demand for the commodity overseas. Bird’s nests can be exported either raw or as a finished product.

In economic terms, the industry not only can help create jobs but also bring in more foreign exchange earnings — literally killing two birds with one stone.

From the http://www.theborneopost.com/

Be fair in crackdown on illegal swiftlet farmers: SAPP leader

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.