One-Stop Centre For Swiftlets In Terengganu

KUALA TERENGGANU, March 8 (Bernama) — The Veterinary Services Department (VSD) plans to set up a RM500,000 one-stop centre for bird’s nest products in Wakaf Tapai, Hulu Terengganu, this year.

Terengganu VSD director Dr Azizol Mohd Sharun said the move was aimed at luring tourists to the state.

With 316 swiftlet-breeding houses operated by bumiputeras registered so far, he said, Terengganu was the biggest player in the bird’s nest industry.

He told Bernama on Monday that the department was also planning to built a swiftlet laboratory in Wakaf Tapai, besides acquiring the halal certificate to enable bird’s nest products to be sold locally and abroad.

Meanwhile, in BACHOK, Kelantan, the Farmers Organisation Authority plans to give grants to hardcore poor farmers to breed swiftlets at home or in the padi fields.

Its director-general, Datuk Mariam Mas Yaacob, said the authority had applied for a RM50 million allocation to implement the programme under the 10th Malaysia Plan which would start next year.

“This is a drastic plan to increase the farmer’s incomes so that they can climb out of poverty,” she told reporters after opening the Seri Gunung Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK) general meeting.

Mariam said bird’s nest products were in demand on the international market and could be sold for between RM4,000 and RM5,000 per kilogramme.

She said the selected farmers would be given a grant of RM10,000 each to build the houses for swiftlets.

- Bernama -