Bird’s nests industry not new in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The bird’s nests industry is not new in Sabah due to the popularity of the Gomantong Caves, home of thousands of swiftlets.

And it is one of the places in the world where harvesting of the nests can be witnessed live.

However, despite the lucrative returns in the industry, there are but a handful of people who have ventured into the industry.

The local bird’s nest price in the country is between RM4,500 and RM6,500 per kg depending on its grade, while the world market price is between RM6,000 and RM12,000 per kg.

In Sabah, for instance, less than 200 people are licensed by the State Wildlife Department to venture into the business and establish their own bird houses, said Global Excellent Marketing Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, Abdul Aziz Mohd Rejab during a one-day course on the potential of the bird nests industry in the country.

Most of the businesses were set up by non-bumiputras, particularly the Chinese as they usually have the capital, know-how and the willingness to embrace any type of business risks, he said.

In the context of Malaysia, about 90 per cent of the entrepreneurs who have ventured into the bird’s nests industry are the Chinese, followed by eight per cent of bumiputras and two per cent Indians.

He added that what discourages the bumiputras from venturing into the industry are its high start-up costs from RM250,000.

However, those who are really keen on the business could share the costs between several interested individuals, he said.

“I suggest them to form a partnership and to share the costs,” he said.

He explained that they will have to invest in a building or bird house with a minimum size of 20×60 feet, and a minimum height of 30 feet.

They must ensure the temperature inside the building remains constant at between 28 celsius and 30 celsius, with adequate humidity and is barely lit.

And of course, the building must be placed at an area where the bird colony already exists, he said.

He added that Sabahans are endowed in this respect as the State has swiftlets’ colonies everywhere.

During the duration of the course, Abdul Aziz taught the participants how the buildings are to be built, along with the specifications up to the type of materials and sounds (recordings) which are needed to attract the birds to make their nests there.

He said that the opportunities in the industry are still plentiful with only about 30 per cent of the world market demand fulfilled.

“The demands come mainly from the Chinese community residing in Europe and North America,” he said.

He also expect there to be an increase in the demand for the bird’s nest in the future due to the developments that are taking place in China.

“The China market is still unexplored. If we can tap into just 10 per cent of their population, it is already a huge income for the people,” he said.