Wednesday March 11, 2009

Rising number of swiflet breeding grounds without license

KUALA TERENGGANU: Some 5,000 buildings in major cities and towns that have been turned into swiflet breeding grounds without permits from the local government, said an officer from the Veterinary Services Depart­ment.

Its head of Exotic Livestock section, Redzuan Ibrahim said the unlicensed breeders have not made any attempt to apply for relevant permits from the local authorities before converting buildings for the breeding of swiflets.

Based on the department’s record , 30,000 buildings nationwide had been converted for the breeding of swiflets to harvest the pricey bird-nests, he said.

Reduan said the authorities had yet to identify all the illegal breeders, adding that the total number might be more than the 5,000 detected.

A kilo of bird-nest could fetch RM3,500, he said after attending a course on effective method of swiflet management at a leading hotel here recently.

The course was opened by Terengganu Swiflet Breeders Associations president, Datuk Tok Teng Sai.

Redzuan said swiflet breeding was a profitable venture and hence had lured many entrepreneurs to set-up breeding grounds.

He said some of the breeders ignored the fact that they should first obtain permission from the local authorities.

Reduan said the local authorities should provide specific guidelines and a standard operating procedure for the breeders while making it compulsory for them to apply for permits.