With the government encouraging the establishment of centralized edible-birdnest swiftlet farms to lift the status of the industry, the appeal of edible-birdnest swiftlet ranching and farming look set to soar. Demand for edible-birdnest from those who love to consume it – in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, besides Chinese communities all over the world – is facing shortage of supply. Investors are literally forming long queues just to own a swiftlet home.

A joint venture partner in the Manjung and Segari projects, said a centre of excellence for edible-birdnest is to be set up in the state to develop products such as nutrient-rich supplements, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The centre will also explore new markets, especially since Malaysia is today the world’s second largest exporter of edible-birdnest.

The joint venture partner of Johor Swiftlet Eco Park, said the state’s swiftlet breeding industry is growing rapidly. There are now around 5,000 swiftlet houses, of which over 80 per cent are in the urban areas of the state, and the Johor government is now looking into ways to regulate the industry, he pointed out.

Visits from personalities such as Dr Redzuan Ibrahim, from the Exotic Animals Unit, to the Manjung and Segari projects show it’s time for swiftlet house owners to properly plan and manage their farms in order to attract more swiftlets and to improve on quality.