Preliminary processing of swift nests at a bird nest production company in HCM City’s Can Gio district (Source: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) - Vietnam has good potential in farming swifts fortheir edible nests, but authorities should make zoning plans and regulationsfor the industry like they do for the husbandry industry to ensure its sustainabledevelopment, according to experts.
The swift nest industry appeared in Vietnam along time ago, starting with exploiting nests in deep caves on islands and onsteep cliffs.
The coast, especially islands from the centralprovince of Quang Binh to Phu Quoc (Kien Giang) in the south, are naturalhabitats for swifts.
But the three largest concentrations of birdnests are in Cham Island in Quang Nam province, Phuong Mai Peninsula in Binh Dinhand the swift islands in Khanh Hoa province.
But output is reducing in Cham Island and PhuongMai and plateauing in Khanh Hoa.
Experts blamed this on the development ofhospitality projects and even industrial parks along the coast, which reducethe populations of insects on which the birds feed.
Therefore, swifts must fly deep into themainland to find food, and 50-60 percent of young birds do not return to theislands.
The swift-breeding industry has developedquickly in Vietnam, mainly in southern provinces and cities.
Around 5,800 houses had been built for breedingthe birds in 41 provinces and cities by the end of last year, with a total ofaround 6.1 million birds producing nearly 50 tonnes of nest a year.
HCM City has the highest number of swiftfarms - more than 540 houses supplying six tonnes of nest a year - followed byRach Gia, Tien Giang, Bac Lieu and some central provinces.
According to the Vietnam Swiftlet FarmersAssociation, building houses for swift breeding is growing at 23-25 percent ayear.
Currently raw swift nest is priced at 20-30 millionVND per kilogramme, and refined nest at 40-45 million VND, and even 100-200million VND for some special types.
Indonesia and Malaysia are the two biggestsuppliers on the global market. Indonesia has more than 200,000 houses forswift farming and produces over 2,100 tonnes a year, while Malaysia has over60,000 houses with annual output of 800 tonnes.
With its long coast and mangrove and protectiveforests that are extremely rich natural habitats for many types ofinsects, Vietnam has huge potential for breeding swifts.
But to facilitate the industry’s development,authorities should allow the construction of houses for farming nests.
Now only 15-20 houses in HCM City’s Can Gio district,Rach Gia, Long An, and Bac Lieu have got construction permits.
Authorities should frame regulations formanagement of sanitation at swift houses and make zoning plans to createfavourable conditions for investors.
Measures to minimise the impacts on the birds’natural prey items are also needed.
According to ornithologists, Vietnam’s swiftpopulation is increasing by 13.4 percent a year.
Their number is expected to reach 13.2 millionby 2020 and nest production, 250 tonnes.-VNA
The swift nest industry appeared in Vietnam along time ago, starting with exploiting nests in deep caves on islands and onsteep cliffs.
The coast, especially islands from the centralprovince of Quang Binh to Phu Quoc (Kien Giang) in the south, are naturalhabitats for swifts.
But the three largest concentrations of birdnests are in Cham Island in Quang Nam province, Phuong Mai Peninsula in Binh Dinhand the swift islands in Khanh Hoa province.
But output is reducing in Cham Island and PhuongMai and plateauing in Khanh Hoa.
Experts blamed this on the development ofhospitality projects and even industrial parks along the coast, which reducethe populations of insects on which the birds feed.
Therefore, swifts must fly deep into themainland to find food, and 50-60 percent of young birds do not return to theislands.
The swift-breeding industry has developedquickly in Vietnam, mainly in southern provinces and cities.
Around 5,800 houses had been built for breedingthe birds in 41 provinces and cities by the end of last year, with a total ofaround 6.1 million birds producing nearly 50 tonnes of nest a year.
HCM City has the highest number of swiftfarms - more than 540 houses supplying six tonnes of nest a year - followed byRach Gia, Tien Giang, Bac Lieu and some central provinces.
According to the Vietnam Swiftlet FarmersAssociation, building houses for swift breeding is growing at 23-25 percent ayear.
Currently raw swift nest is priced at 20-30 millionVND per kilogramme, and refined nest at 40-45 million VND, and even 100-200million VND for some special types.
Indonesia and Malaysia are the two biggestsuppliers on the global market. Indonesia has more than 200,000 houses forswift farming and produces over 2,100 tonnes a year, while Malaysia has over60,000 houses with annual output of 800 tonnes.
With its long coast and mangrove and protectiveforests that are extremely rich natural habitats for many types ofinsects, Vietnam has huge potential for breeding swifts.
But to facilitate the industry’s development,authorities should allow the construction of houses for farming nests.
Now only 15-20 houses in HCM City’s Can Gio district,Rach Gia, Long An, and Bac Lieu have got construction permits.
Authorities should frame regulations formanagement of sanitation at swift houses and make zoning plans to createfavourable conditions for investors.
Measures to minimise the impacts on the birds’natural prey items are also needed.
According to ornithologists, Vietnam’s swiftpopulation is increasing by 13.4 percent a year.
Their number is expected to reach 13.2 millionby 2020 and nest production, 250 tonnes.-VNA
VNA
