Swiftlet Farming Association Initiated By Jabatan Veterinar !!!

My intention was nothing more than attending the morning talk and perhaps look see look see at the new swiftlet farming association initiated by Jabatan Veterina.

What I was given was more than what I wanted to do.

I was elected to be one of the office bearers holding one of the top position.

This is not a very simple task and with so many challenges in the industry if will not be that easy.

This swiftlet industry was slapped export restriction into mainland China about 5 years ago.

All in all the Chinese authorities claimed that nearly all processed nests are heavily contaminated with nitrite.

A total band on the product resulted in a havoc scenario in most producing countries.

The raw nests price dropped to an almost unprofitable to manage a BH.

Many BH owners lost interest in running their BH and many who abandoned their BHs and opt for some other income earning job.

 This 5 years tough us something.

We cannot totally depend on mainland China and we also cannot totally depend on process nests.

We need to explore other Buyers beside China and we need to diversify bird nests downstream products.

This was what happened and we should be proud that the relevant authorities are now looking at doing what our industries should have done long ago.

I wanted to do more on the upstream activities.

The number of failed BHs in Malaysia is staggering.

Unfortunately there seems to be no solution to help these failed units.

Nearly 90% of those who attended today's meeting are asking the association to do something quick to arrest the failed BHs.

It will be one very big task and a big financial outlay to get all these failed BHs back into operation.

My first step will be to get every BH owner to register with the association.

Will split the failed categories into two.  First will less than 300 nests and second with more than 300 nests.

The association need to go down to each state to gather as many names as possible.

The list should be finalized within 3 months.

This list will help the association to plan the next plan on how to perhaps distribute the necessary time and perhaps resources to reactivates all of them.

Each state shall be required to activate a similar association so that all rehabilitation works can be done via these bodies.

Every associated bodies shall be required to learn the process of rehabilitation works.

Any activities in the state jurisdiction will be via the association.

Let me draft some of my other ideas and perhaps forward to the board during the first meeting.