Friday, May 20, 2011

Bird’s nest industry, popular in S’wak and Sabah, now catching up in peninsula

theborneopost.com

Posted on March 30, 2010, Tuesday 
ALOR STAR: 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 Star, 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 RM1 million 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 RM2.5 million 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 3 kilogrammes (kg) 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 Malaysia 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

Thursday, May 19, 2011

ASNI: Penang govt misled people about Unesco’s swiftlet ban

By BERNARD SEE
bernardsee@thestar.com.my

THE state government has misled the Penang people by claiming that Unesco called for a ban on swiftlet farming in the George Town world heritage site. Association for Swiftlet Nests Industry (ASNI) president Carole Loh (pic) said she received a letter from Unesco dated May 4 which stated that they (Unesco) were merely asking the state government to asses the impact of the birdhouses on the heritage enclave.

“Why did the Penang government tell the people of Penang that Unesco does not allow birdhouses in George Town and that the letter was a warning? Unesco has now confirmed that this is not true. “The state government is now saying something else and that the birdhouses are having a negative impact on the inner city’s outstanding universal value (OUV) which gave rise to the listing,” she said when contacted yesterday.
Loh said ASNI had a three-hour meeting with a Unesco representative in Jakarta on April 15 and “we have been recommended to promote a dialogue to reach a mutually beneficial conclusion that will satisfy all stakeholders”.

On a claim by state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow that people were moving out of George Town because of the birdhouses, she said the real reason was because of the sharp increase in rent after the repeal of the Rent Control Act in 2000 and not swiftlet farming. “He also said that swiftlet farming had caused the building facade and streetscape to change but he must remember that there are many birdhouses which have been beautifully renovated to preserve its heritage.

“We have offered many times to work with the state government to help renovate the buildings so that they are in line with heritage guidelines. “Moreover, birdhouses are not considered Class 1 buildings, in which the facade and interior of the buildings have to be preserved, and we only need to ensure that the facade is maintained,” she added.

Loh said Chow also alleged that noise from recordings to attract the birds were disturbing the neighbours but this was not an issue as the playing of such recordings had already been banned. Loh said under the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site Special Area Plan (SAP), existing trades and businesses which have been listed as non-permissible activities will not be asked to move out of the heritage zone as it will affect the livelihood of people in the area.

“What about the existing birdhouses in George Town and the livelihood of its owners? ASNI had offered to work together with the state government for a ‘win win’ solution but they are not interested. “They do not care that the livelihood of our members would be severely affected. “Why are the birdhouse owners treated differently? Why the double standards?” she asked.

Loh said the phenomenon of swiftlets living within a heritage enclave is unique to George Town and Malacca and the birdhouses should be seen as ‘Living Heritage’, an aspect which contributed to its OUV.
By closing and eliminating all traces of the birdhouses, she added, the Penang government was tampering with the authenticity of the inner city’s heritage and rewriting its history.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

State admits Unesco never asked for swiftlet ban in city

www.thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: Unesco never called for a ban on swiftlet farming in the George Town world heritage site.
The international body also did not impose any regulations on the country after Penang and Malacca were jointly listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008, Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.

“However, swiftlet farming would have a negative impact on the inner city’s outstanding universal value (OUV) which gave rise to the listing — hence the state government’s decision to impose the ban.
“George Town’s OUV is that the city is a thriving port in the Straits of Malacca with multi-cultural heritage and unique shophouse architecture.

“Although Unesco never asked for a ban on swiftlet farming, the activity jeopardises the listing because of its negative impact on the OUV,” he said in his winding up speech at the state assembly.Chow said swiftlet farming had caused the building facade and streetscape to change, residents to move out leaving the buildings empty and was a disturbance to the nearby residents.

“These affect the OUV which is why the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site Special Area Plan does not allow swiftlet farming in the heritage zone.” Interjecting, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya (BN-Teluk Bahang) said instead of banning the activity, the state government should formulate creative guidelines to prevent the OUV from being compromised.

“Unesco didn’t ask for a ban so why is there a need for us to do so? “The birds may not follow if you get the swiftlet home operators to move to another zone. Bird nest farming is a lucrative business so this ban will cause us to lose a lot of money.

“I am sure we can come up with enforceable guidelines so that the swiftlet operators need not move out.
“We can even encourage businesses related to swiftlet farming such as the sale of bird nest products and drinks in the inner city,” he said.

Defending the ban, Chow said the existing 100-odd swiftlet farms in the heritage enclave would otherwise mushroom to 1,000. The Opposition and backbenchers have called on the state government to identify zones for bird nest farming in the state.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Swiftlet farmer: Allow swiftlet farming in towns

Posted on April 9, 2010, Friday by Borneo Post
www.theborneopost.com

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.

He said DBKK must be fair to all no matter who they are whether they got connection or otherwise.

As such, Chong said the decision of the state government to ban swiftlet rearing within the city area must be adhered to immediately.

He said DBKK’s refusal to take action to close the swiftlet farms at Gaya Street and Lorong Dewan had raised suspicions.

Chong said the swiftlet farms at Gaya Street and Lorong Dewan must be closed down without further delay not because the state government had made a decision but such farms could harm people’s health.

According to him, DBKK should not wait until someone dies of bird related diseases before taking action, which would already be too late.

Apart from that, he said swiftlet farms within the city were also dirtying the surrounding areas and polluting the environment.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Pahang guide on swiftlet industry soon

http://thestar.com.my/news
KUANTAN: Pahang will introduce its guidelines on the sustainable development of the swiftlet industry by the middle of the year. State Local Government, Environment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said the guidelines were a combination of its rules launched in 2007 and those of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry.

He said there was a need to make adjustments to the ministry’s guidelines due to the rapid growth of the industry in the state. “We are getting input from industry experts and the Veterinary Services Department in drafting the guidelines,” he said on Tuesday.

Hoh said a meeting was held in February to sort out technical issues, such as enforcement work and legal action that could be taken by local authorities.

“We will call for a meeting next month to finalise the details and if things proceed as planned, the guidelines will be introduced by the middle of the year,” Hoh said. He said although the state government realised the potential in the swiftlet industry, public health must remain top priority.