Swiftlet farming worth getting into

by Mohamad Abdullah reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 22, 2011, Wednesday

Jarani Abdullah

MIRI: Bumiputera entrepreneurs here are urged to start getting involved in the lucrative bird nest industry lest they be left far behind. Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) Miri branch secretary, Jarani Abdullah, said that non-bumi businessmen were already far ahead in the industry raking so much revenue each year leaving their bumi counterparts far behind.

“The bird nest industry generates very big income for the operators as the demand (for bird nests) in the world market is so good,” Jarani said when met yesterday. According to Jarani, the Chinese entrepreneurs here were more aggressive in the industry based on the many bird houses they had put up everywhere including on buildings and on idle private land.

He said that courses could be arranged for those who wanted to get involved in the business while the necessary equipment and exposure could be arranged for them. It is said that unprocessed bird nests are worth between RM4,000 and RM5,000 per kg while processed ones fetch between RM9,000 and RM20,000 per kg.

This was revealed by an official from Niah Birdnest Trading which will conduct a one day seminar on swiftlet farming at the civic centre here on June 25. The company will share with the participants the relevant knowledge and the experience they have with rearing swiftlets. Members of the public interested to join the seminar are urged to get the entry forms from DUBS Miri office which can be contacted at 085-416945, Jarani at 019-8542548 or Ann at 016-8939409.

Among those expected to attend the seminar is an officer from the Forest Department who will talk on licensing, an officer from Agrobank who will talk on business financing, and an officer from the Veterinary Services Department on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture.