Latest news of Swiflet farming in Sarawak,Mukah

Dear Readers,
Again the lastest news of swiflet farming in Sarawak for your perusal.
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Sarawak's Bird Nest Industry Still In Dilemma


By Syed Azwan Syed Ali

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- Probably not many are aware that Malaysia's bird nest industry has grown to RM1 billion per annum in its value following the large scale migration of the edible nest swiftlet from Indonesia about 10 years ago.

The figure is expected to increase due to the steady demand from China where the bird nest soup is a popular delicacy especially among the well heeled segment of the society.

Malaysia is the world's third biggest producer of bird's nest after Indonesia and Thailand with an average of 12 tonnes of nests produced monthly.

The nests made by the edible-nest swiftlet (aerodramus fuciphagus) and the black-nest swiftlet (aerodramus maximus) in Malaysia is said to be of better quality.

LICENSING ISSUES RETARDING THE INDUSTRY

Nevertheless, of late there has been some concerns over the licensing problems of more than 1,500 swiftlet farms in Sarawak that could retard the industry.

In Peninsular Malaysia, swiftlet farms are allowed to be set up within shop houses and commercial lots in towns according to conditions set, but such setups are not allowed within towns in Sarawak.

This is because the Sarawak's Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 does not allow swiftlet farming within towns. At the same time, the state has no guidelines to allow swiftlet farming in towns unlike in Peninsular Malaysia.

Furthermore the Wildlife Protection Rules (Edible Bird Nests) 1998 and Wildlife Protection Rules 1998 expounds that the species can only be bred in agricultural areas in outskirts other that its original habitat like caves.

"By right, the state government should support the industry and liaise with the federal government by having a uniform guideline in swiftlet farming," said Koh Ung Leong to Bernama when met in Sibu recently.

The veterinarian said as the edible-nest swiftlet has high economic value, the industry helps to boost local real estate value and serves as a viable alternative to farmers and fishermen.

A survey conducted by Bernama found that many swiftlet farms have been set up in special structures and altered shophouses in towns along the coast line in Mukah, Sibu, Sarikei and Bintulu.

The state's edible-nest swiftlet merchants association earlier had sought the intervention of Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to find a solution for the dilemma following strict enforcement in Mukah since last October.

THE CURRENT STATUS

Currently there is more than 1,500 swiftlet farms but only two have been licensed by the authorities. This means 99.8 percent of the swiftlet farms in the state is illegal.

"We hope the state government will prepare a guideline similar to the one in Peninsula. We will fully cooperate with the state to solve this issue," said the pro-tem chairman of the Sarikei edible-nest swiftlet merchants association, Wong Hua Ting.

On this issue, the state government has two choices whether to centralise swiftlet farming in a particular location by setting up an eco-park or adapt a specific guideline on swiftlet farming.

"It is impossible to transfer these birds. The swiftlet is not like chicken or duck to be caught and transferred. These birds have made their bird houses as the nest," said the chairman of the federation of Malaysian edible-nest swiftlet merchants association Datuk Beh Heng Seong.

At present, it is still not clear whether the swiftlets can be transferred moreover it is a species protected under the Wildlife Act 1972. As there are risks of the birds dying during transfer, especially the chicks, it is almost impossible to transfer them.

The question remains how the state government especially the Sarawak Forestry Department (SFD) and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) will handle the issue without leaving anyone in the losing end including the owners of the swiftlet farms.

THE STAND TAKEN ON THE ISSUE

The Director General of SFD who is also Chief Executive of the SFC Datuk Len Talif Salleh stressed that the industry should be developed systematically based on the existing laws.

"Many of those seeking license are in towns which by the definition of the law they do not qualify," said Len Talif adding that the risks of epidemics like bird flu being the reason why the state government does not want to allow swiftlet farming in towns.

There were also complaints from the public on the stench from the bird droppings and the din from the speaker to entice the swiftlets to nest in the farms.

Len Talif also claimed that the setting up of swiftlet farms within towns disrupts business for some especially those in the food business or having stalls near the farms.

"There should not be guideline to setup the birdhouse in town. This contravenes the law," he said adding that the state government will build an eco-park and provide licenses for individuals keen in setting up the swiftlet farms on agricultural land in the rural areas.

BUREAUCRACY HURDLES

Many of the swiftlet farm owners see red over the bureaucracy involving the Land and Survey Department, Sarawak Planning Authority (SPA), SFC and the local government as the red tape is a serious impediment in getting a license for swiftlet farming.

Furthermore as there is no guarantee that the birds will nest in the proposed eco-park, that is why they want the state government to adopt the Veterinary Services Department's Best Practices in Animal Breeding (GAHP) for the swiftlet farming.

GAHP, which is among the conditions for licensing in Peninsula, has set certain specifications to ensure the swiftlet farms are set up in a conducive and environmentally friendly environment, which among others the noises from the speakers should not exceed 40 decibels and the speaker cone set facing the sky in a 60 degree angle to overcome noise pollution.

"We talk about "1Malaysia" which means the same law for everyone. Why then the state government does not want to accept this guideline," said a bird nest trader from Mukah, John Low.

He was referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's statement encouraging the people especially the Bumiputeras to venture into swiftlet farming that can boost the local economy.

The Mukah edible-nest swiftlet merchants association protem chairman, Philip Tiong, wanted the authorities to hold a dialog with swiftlet farm owners to find a solution for the dilemma and any `one way dialog' ordering them to shift out should never be the option.

CLAIMS OF MONOPOLY

Nonetheless, several swiftlet farm owners claimed that the setting up of the eco-park including in Mukah is the work of some to monopolise the industry.

This is because a kilogramme of the bird's nest can fetch RM4,000 and the figure doubles after the nests are processed for export to China, Hong Kong and Korea.

If the Mukah district can produce 100 kilogrammes of bird nest valued at RM400,000 monthly, just imagine the amount of revenue that can be generated by 40,000 swiftlet farms all over the country.

Though the allegations of monopoly is yet to be proven, the authorities should attend immediately to the current impasse that can derail the government's plan to develop the bird nest industry.

Meanwhile, head of the swiftlet unit of the Veterinary Services Department Dr Fadzilah A'ini Abdul Kadir noted that the department, which is the leading agency in monitoring the swiftlet industry, is keeping track on the developments in the industry.

Since the last three years, more than 5,000 samples of the swiftlet have been tested by the department and so far they have been free from bird flu and Newcastle disease, said Dr Fadzilah.

-- BERNAMA


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好消息！政府和养燕公会的谈判结果

公会与政府机构双赢的谈判！

“马燕窝商联合会全力争取下 引燕业统一指南草拟完成
二零零九年五月十日 晚上六时五十一分


（双溪大年10日讯）全国统一引燕业指南草拟成功，为马来西亚燕窝业者捎来好消息！

由房屋及地方政府部属下城市乡村规划局所负责的全国统一引燕业指南草拟工作，在马来西亚燕窝商联合会的全力配合下，终于顺利完成。

马来西亚燕窝商联合会自成立以来一直积极向政府反映，通过各管道力争一套全国性的统一指南，使这个行业能有系统化的持续发展，并合法化及企业化。

在联合会多年的默默耕耘下，燕窝业的潜能终获得了政府的肯定。

首相拿督斯里纳吉日前在巫统大会上提倡发展燕窝业为大马的新兴行业。

内阁于今年4月9日批准将发展燕窝业这项目交由农业部属下的兽医局负责。

兽医局在第一时间与马来西亚燕窝商联合会成立一个由政府部门及私人界组织组成的委员会，监督并发展大马燕窝业。委员会的其中一项重务是拟定一套全国性养燕业指南。

马来西亚燕窝联合会在会长拿督巴督卡马兴松的领导下，带领各州燕窝商公会主席，于3月25日与房屋及地方政府部展开初步对话，检讨草拟指南中的条文。联合会针对草拟指南中的各项条文发表看法并提出建议。

联合会随着在5月6日与房屋及地方政府部属下的城市乡村规划局展开第二轮的对话，以进一步敲定新的引燕业指南。

2造经过一番积极且融洽的讨论后，终于成功拟定一份双方都能接受的引燕业指南建议书。

草拟指南删除燕屋漂白计划 禁新进业者市区引燕

在联合会的积极争取下，当局同意把原有草拟指南中的市区燕屋漂白计划删除。

在原有的这漂白计划下（Pemutihan），所有在市区的燕屋必须在2012年后搬迁到城市以外地区。

联合会认为这建议绝对不可行。因为燕鸟和一般家禽不一样，不能如业者所愿，随意将它们搬迁，因为一旦被逼搬迁就会落得血本无归。

城市乡村规划局体在听取联合会的看法后，同意将这项市区燕屋漂白计划删除。

取而代之是允许在市区的现有燕屋，在符合管制条件的情况下，继续操作，而新进业者将不获准在市区内引燕。

另外一项共识是申请燕屋执照的业者必须是当局所承认燕商公会的会员，并得到公会的推介。

公会在这方面能扮演教育及监督的角色，确保业者在不影响他人的情况下，有纪律的经营燕屋。

指南如定心丸 给业者带保障

马来西亚联合会会长拿督巴督卡马兴松欣慰大马引燕业者多年来所盼望的统一养燕业指南终于有了着落，他认为这套指南的出炉将如同一颗定心丸，给业者带来保障，让大家敢于投身燕窝业并大展拳脚。

他对于相关成果深表满意，并相信这将是一套双赢的指南，惠及全国引燕业者、地方政府、其他有关政府部门及大众。他也希望引燕业者积极响应首相的呼吁，将燕窝业发展成马来西亚的主要行业，帮助政府振兴国家经济。

他说，统一引燕业指南的实行也将有助于解决一直以来困扰着地方政府在面对与燕屋有关的民生问题。有了明确的指南，各地方政府能更有效的监督及管制养燕活动，避免发生任何不愉快的事件。

拿督马感谢房屋及地方政府部长拿督江作汉的支持，使到草拟全国引燕指南的项目顺利完成。他也感谢兽医局，城市乡村规划局及各州燕商公会的配合。

另一方面，马兴松也呼吁全国的引燕业者用踊跃加入各州的燕商公会。他也呼吁各州已正式注册成立的燕窝商公会尽快加入马来西亚燕窝商联合会旗下成为会员。壮大声势及提高代表性，使联合会能更有效的与政府携手发展马来西亚燕窝业。

同时他也期望各州的燕商公会能继续教育引燕业者，并灌输正确的知识，确保业者遵守条例及指南，注意及维护燕屋的环境清洁，避免制造噪音影响民众，进而为燕业塑造一个良好形象。
相关照片

■ 马兴松(中)带领各州燕窝商公会主席与城市乡村规划局展开第二轮的对话，以进一步敲定新的引燕业指南。 “

Iron oxide for red nest血燕??

Dear friends,

Are you interested to know how red nest or blood nest was formed?

Hereby another article extracted for your perusal:

"Iron Oxide On Wooden Plate !!!‏
From: duck-egg-swiftlet-special@googlegroups.com on behalf of harryswiftletfarming (ismailblsb@gmail.com)
Sent: Saturday, 9 May, 2009 4: 21 AM
To: Duck Egg Swiftlet Special (duck-egg-swiftlet-special@googlegroups.com)

While preparing the rusty iron plates, there were lots of rustymaterials on the plastic layer on the floor. What come to my mind was to take those iron oxide and apply to thesurface (one side) wood piece (5"x1"X1/2"). What I did was to nail or screw the cover wood onto the nestingplanks. I am not very sure of the result but hopefully the birds will likesthem. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Duck Egg Swiftlet Special" group.To post to this group, send email to duck-egg-swiftlet-special@googlegroups.comTo unsubscribe from this group, send email to duck-egg-swiftlet-special+unsubscribe@googlegroups.comFor more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/duck-egg-swiftlet-special?hl=en