A Governing Body needed to Support Swiftlet Nest Ranchers in Sabah

23 August 2024

KOTA KINABALU: Swiftlet ranching, specifically for the production of edible bird's nests, has emerged as a significant industry in Sabah, making valuable contributions to local economies and the global market.

Despite its growth, this industry faces challenges that, if not addressed, could impede its long-term sustainability and financial viability.

Therefore, there is an immediate need to establish a dedicated governing body to support the swiftlet nest industry in Sabah.

This call was made by the recently appointed Chairman of Kinabalu Borneo Bird Nest (KBBN) Sdn Bhd, Datuk Karim Bujang.

He emphasised that KBBN will play a crucial role in advancing the Swiftlet Industry, ensuring that ranchers receive fair prices for their products and are safeguarded against exploitation by intermediaries.

The establishment of KBBN as a governing body is not just a necessity but a strategic move to safeguard the future of the industry, said Karim who is Sabah Swiftlet House and Birds Nest Industry Association (SWIFIN) President.

He stressed that by ensuring fair pricing, protecting ranchers from exploitation, enforcing quality control, providing education, and advocating for supportive policies, KBBN could significantly enhance the profitability and sustainability of swiftlet industry in Sabah.

"As the global demand for edible bird's nests continues to rise, now is the time to take action to ensure that Sabahs swiflet ranchers can fully capitalize on this lucrative market," he said adding that one of KBBN's primary responsibilities of would be to regulate and stabilize the pricing of swiftlet nests.

According to Karim, the current market for swiflets' nest is highly volatile, with prices fluctuating based on various factors such as quality, demand, and ultimately due influence of middlemen.

Ranchers, particularly those in rural areas, often lack the market knowledge and negotiating power to secure fair prices for their products, he explained.

"Therefore a a governing body could establish pricing guidelines based on market trends, quality assessments, and international benchmarks, ensuring that ranchers are compensated fairly for their efforts and are protected from exploitation by middlemen," he said.

Karim disclosed that middlemen often play a dominant role in the swiftlet nest trade, sometimes taking advantage of ranchers who are not well-versed in market dynamics.

"These intermediaries can drive down prices, leading to ranchers receiving far less than the market value of their nests.

Nowadays, the price of Raw Uncleaned Edible Birds Nest (RUC-EBN) drops from Rm3,500/kg early this year (2024) to in range RM1,500/kg — RM2,000/kg as it was influenced by the middleman.

"KBBN, as the governing body could intervene by offering direct marketing support, facilitating access to both local and international markets, providing education on fair trade practices and being vocal advocate for swiftlet ranchers. This would empower ranchers to sell their products at more competitive prices," Karim said.

He also said that in the current volatile marketing, swiflet ranchers in Sabah should increase the value of RUC-EBN by stagnating the RUC-EBN transaction in the market, where as the supply of RUC-EBN is lower than the demand subsequently increasing value of RUC-EBN at significant level.

According to Karim, another crucial function of KBBN would be to establish and enforce quality control standards because the global market for swiftlet nests is highly discerning, with buyers often willing to pay a premium for high-quality, pure products.

By providing certification and ensuring that all nests meet stringent quality standards, KBBN, as the governing body could enhance the reputation of Sabahs swiftlet nests, making them more attractive to international buyers.

This, in turn, could lead to higher prices and greater demand.

Education, Karim said, is key to the success of any agricultural or ranching industry therefore KBBN could offer training programs for swiftlet ranchers, covering topics such as best practices in nest harvesting, sustainable ranching methods, and the latest technologies in swiftlet farming.

Additionally, providing resources such as access to financing, technological support, and market information would help ranchers optimize their operations and increase their profitability.

"A governing body would serve as an advocate for swiftlet ranchers at the governmental level, pushing for policies that support the industry's growth and sustainability. This could include lobbying for subsidies, tax incentives, and research and development funding to improve ranching practices and increase yields," he said.