htc, thanks.
haven't drop in on your blog for a while.
You have added on some very useful info.
Way to go.

Just went to the JV or local DVS and the officer there didn't have any information on what to do yet but promised to inform us if any news on the matter. He told us that the DVS is going to your BHs and mark it in GPS so that DVS could trace your BHs with satellite. As for export, DVS is incharge but the new procedure isn't out yet

That's what he told me and I really don't know if he knows.

To quote the Malay Mail report by the Minister
"The DVS will provide each swiftlet farm with a Radio Frequency Indentification (RFID) to assist in identifying the location of the farms which are required to be far from residential areas."
LOL,
I was wondering how they manage to jump from RFID to GPS!!!!
Now it's clearer. They will go visit your farm and take the GPS coordinates.
And how are they to decide if that particular location is far enough from residential dwellings?
Even JUPEM (Jabatan Ukur) doesnt have ready to use s'ware to identify that right away.
I hope they are not thinking of using Google Earth for the purpose.
1)GoogleEarth satellite shots are a few years old.
2)Also a lot of shots are 10-200 meters out of the real coordinates.

Try it out yourself.
Find a location near you in Google Earth under high resolution.
Go there physically and take the GPS cood.
Then enter the cood into Google Earth...you will find that you are tens to hundreds of metres OFF.

Try horizontal metal bar say 150mm spacing at the window inlet hole. See how ur birds response, ok then place permanent. U be surprise some very sucessful bhs in KT did that, from far spacing seems like less than 150mm.

Thanks, Bobby C. Have already tried that. Even with 200 mm. spacing, some birds died from crashing into the bars, so had to take them all out.

With any problem, there is a solution, provided you consider all the aspects that that surround the problem. They are not myths ! Each problem has a general and also unique solution. Myths are things we fail to understand.

You did not give full details in the first place.

Remember, Owls are wise ! in many cases wiser than humans remember, I mentioned they learn ! and fast.

Spikes did not work because it has been attacking the place for a long time and learnt to avoid them without having the need to perch on the entrance hole before entering.

Lights did not work because they are on all the time and only HELPS them to see better.

The owl did not need to perch because it already has a perch nearby, from which to launch it's attack.

There are in general 2 types of common owls, a larger and a smaller specie. The smaller specie can fly up to the nest and hover and fly off without going very low, near the floor.

Since yours is an old problem, the horizontal bars across the in/out hole is the best best.
Remove all places where the birds can perch within 50 metres. eg. tall trees etc.

Use flourescent lights for general lighting and spot light connected to infra red sensors at the entry hole. In case you don't realise, the sudden light that comes on when the bird approaches will deter the bird.


Otherwise pay a specialist to get rid of the problem once and for all. No solution no pay.

---

Added on July 14, 2010, 2:46 pmMalaysia Survey maps uses a different Datum to Google Earth /Maps.. Google maps does not have the accuracy of JUPEM survey maps/plans which are sub cm. accurate depending on scale.

GPS usually uses a datum WGS84 whereas Malaysia uses Kertau. Without going into details, there are differences when we compare older land plans to current GPS readings.

Jabatan Ukur has updated Kertau based plans to GPS ready coordinates for most urban areas. CDs of these updated plans are available, in GPS/ WGS84 though not for the whole of Malaysia. Many surveyors now use GPS for surveying in Malaysia but they use a different receiver that can be very accurate. Civilian GPS receivers are good to about 10 m radius.

Several years ago, US imposed a random 30m+ offset on all gps signals so that other military could not use the signals. Now, with military GPS they can put a cruise missile into birdhouse entry hole, so the offset is said to be no longer there.

If all residential areas have approved plans then it will be easy to identify where each location is in relation to these areas.

DVS wants to identify every BH in Malaysia. The obvious reason is CONTROL. The RFID ideas was brought up many years ago but it was never implemented for many other types of farming, eg, poultry, cattle etc. The obvious reason is diseases control, which is under their purview. So all they do is scan the RFID and they know where it comes from. It is an identity tag. Just like the IC number.

We know we can always put somebody elses tag on our produce, if need be.

GPS just helps the officers when they need to visit the site, with current GPS route planners. There will be no need for long, complicating rural addresses. It will also help other government agencies to identify the farms, eg. IRS.






This post has been edited by tuckfook: Jul 14 2010, 02:46 PM

One good thing that I got from DVS is that DVS is very supportive of the industry and to them, swiftlets are safe in any place unlike dogs and cats and they don't carry any diseases. The only problem is with the local authorities and other departments........they are the ones that object.

The problem now is that DVS doesn't know how to start as there are really too many groups to please and everyone has his own view. As I said before, be united and have only one voice. We need to compromise or otherwise, if we just leave them to the authorities to decide on the matter, we will all suffer.

With too many advisers, DVS really have problems like the one that told them Ultrasound is the best cos that's doesn't affect human but will the birds understand and also the one that told them we can move the birds to agriculture land, we can move but the birds don't ....talking as if we are having chicken farm...........

DVS should start off with the minimum requirements and expand it when necessary or as proven correct and effective later after research and testing have been done by reliable experts and not CON sultants. DVS and the players both have the same ambition and that is to make this industry a success and prosperous for the nation and raayat but never be too ambitious ang too many guildlines and requirements ......as these may kill the whole industry or slow down the development of the industry.

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Added on July 14, 2010, 3:47 pmSwiftlets are just like we human and take things for granted like we crashing into a hole in the middle of the road and then blame that there wasn't a hole there before.

Swiftlets also do that and if you don't believe me, you just try partially block your inlet hole with plywood and you may hear swiftlets banging on to the wooden plywood although the swiftlet have very good eyesight and also superb hearing.........the swiftlets just bang on to the plywood as they too take for granted that there were nothing there before...........and this may injured or killed the swiftlets. That's the reason that I always suggest to friends never to block or partially obstruct the opening as it may injure the swiftlets unintentionally.

My little experience with swiftlets to share.

This post has been edited by West Wing: Jul 14 2010, 03:47 PM

Thank you, tuckfook.

BTW forgot to add , Owls need some light to see and if it is totally dark in the BH they cannot see also. Their hearing is good but the tweeters will confuse them usually.

Using powerful lights outside will actually aid them inside. They can hunt by starlight alone.

You are unlikely to see their shit in totally blackened areas.

I believe these JUPEM CDs contain static maps and will require special s'ware to enable and expertise to interactively reference them with dynamic cood like BH locations. I hope they do not create a booboo over this.

I am still baffled over the RFIDs though. Do they really intend us to tag every item in the BHs? If not how else can they identify the source?
As advised by the good Dr in her presentation, they have the means to track all sources of BH items thru RFIDs, eggs and all.
This is so ridiculous.
1)Who is to issue the labels of differing quantities?
2)Or do they expect each of us to buy a encoder too?
3)if not are we to prepay for a fixed amt of tags each time if issued by DVS?
4)How are they to ensure all are tagged, will they come around with a reader?
It's common practice to leave the BHs alone and DVs wants us to manhandle everything?
This will make BHs keeping a very time consuming affair doesn't it?
If true it's downright madness.

JUPEM Maps in digital format are the same as on paper. GPS coordinates are unique. Should be no problem for anyone with a form 5 education to locate any point. These are not moving maps, ie they do not change as you travel. You will have to refer to them by town, district, lot nos etc. There are plenty of moving maps now created for Malaysia so it is not difficult to use such GPS devices to find any coordinate in Malaysia or for that matter anywhere in the world. Also now available on many smart phones.

Naval Charts may require special software, S56 or something similar. This is a special application to enable very many features available in such specialized maps. eg depth contours, navi aids, warning features etc.

Yes, it is ridiculous if not impossible to try introduce RFIDs for BHs and their products. one would need to encode each and everything that comes out of the BH. How would DVS enforce that let alone implement that at all?? Let the Dr. dream on. As usual academicians are usually not practical.

However, it may be practical to use RFIDs on end manufacturers, in this case the producers of the finished and packed products, which may be good for the industry as it'll enable eg. adulterated goods to be quickly and easily traced. It's like an electronic brand name. Just an electronic convenience perhaps.

Perhaps DVS consider bird's nests to be similar to letters and parcels sent by courier services. Imagine exporting birds' nest individually by courier services. The gods must be Crazy.

I dont know what to make of this statement in Parliament.
"Mengenai sarang burung, perkara ini saya fikir jelas bahawa pungutan
sarang burung ini adalah sarang burung di hutan, di gua, ini memerlukan lesen kerana
dengan cara ada lesen, kita dapat mengawal kerana ini adalah isu konservasi kerana
harga sarang burung walit ini adalah tinggi. Jadi kalau tidak dikawal nanti kita akan
menghadapi masalah dari segi cara dan sebagainya dan ia akan pupus. Seperti saya
sebut awal tadi, rang undang-undang ini tidak mengawal penternakan ataupun industri
burung walit di bandar-bandar. Itu adalah di bawah Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri
Asas Tani dan sebagainya."

MPs Qs on sale to only licensed purchaser and the existing export tax were not answered directly.
Does the above statement apply to the unanswered Qs?
Hansard link below, for those who want to go thru the Qs and Ans on EBN in Parliament.
http://www.parlimen.gov.my/hindex/pdf/DR-13072010.pdf

Besides all the temporary solutions proposed above, guess mid/long term plan shall be widening the inlet hole and slowly closing up the depth to less than a feet as what the Indos do.

Believe that shall solve ur permanent headache.

---

Added on July 15, 2010, 9:22 amThey can propose anything in their wildest wet dreams, end of the day if not practical and causing too much nuisances, complaints and hassle, sooner or later it will get kicked out by the majority.

There was a case related to one sunset cottage industry where the income tax dept decided one day to treat them on par as major manufacturers by proposing to place an officer in every homes/factories, sit there do nothing just counting how much you produce daily (encourage more red tapes potential daily harassment by the taxman). Worst on top of that proposing to increase taxes by 100%. That was hell lot of madness, as good as telling all cottage players to close shop and let thousands old/young people unemployed and let the major players rule!

Not more than 50 small players got to together and bought the issue to the cabinet. Ng Yen Yen did nothing singing song tell people go fly kites. My dad gave her a good lecture, 'You people stay in aircon rooms, what did you know abt hardship of people!'. You shall see her face. Gerakan formal VP Kerk .. has been very helpful came to help and after few mths of sleepless nights finally issue settle, all small cottage players allow to operate but still at the mercy of gomen whether they will change the policies again. So nobody dares to invest in new machinery to expand as risk too high. But at least thousands of folks get to carry on their work ...

Moral of the story, not this industry but all business/industries facing the same. Just depend how unite when red flag is raised.

This post has been edited by Bobby C: Jul 15 2010, 09:22 AM

Kenyataan Media : Pembangunan Industri Burung Walit Malaysia

Oleh;

Y.B. DATUK SERI NOH BIN HAJI OMAR

Menteri Pertanian & Industri Asas Tani Malaysia

12 Julai 2010 (Isnin)

ROAD MAP

PEMBANGUNAN INDUSTRI BURUNG WALIT NEGARA

Pada 1 April 2009, Kerajaan telah memutuskan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar (JPV) dilantik sebagai agensi peneraju bagi merancang pembangunan industri burung walit di negara ini. Berikutan dari arahan itu, JPV telah melaksanakan usaha-usaha menyelaras undang-undang dan peraturan beserta garis panduan yang menjadi wadah utama untuk memantapkan Industri Walit keseluruhannya. Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani menerusi JPV telah mengambil beberapa tindakan bagi pembangunan industri burung walit seperti:

* menyediakan satu Garis Panduan (1GP) Pembangunan Industri Burung Walit Negara yang menyeluruh untuk diguna pakai oleh pelbagai agensi yang terlibat bertujuan untuk menyelaras dan mengharmonikan pelbagai peraturan pelaksanaan aktiviti penternakan dan pemprosesan serta kegiatan import dan eksport sarang burung walit agar ia lebih tersusun dan berdaya maju; dan
* menyediakan Kerangka Pelan Induk Pembangunan Industri Burung Walit.

Justeru itu, Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani telah merangka pelan induk pembangunan industri sarang burung walit bagi menambah bilangan pengusaha yang mampan dari kalangan pelbagai lapisan masyarakat untuk melibatkan diri dalam penternakan burung walit dan perusahaan sarang burung walit. Perancangan pelaksanaan pelan induk ini merangkumi tempoh sehingga tahun 2020 telah menggariskan tindakan-tindakan yang perlu dilaksanakan oleh pelbagai agensi yang terlibat dalam menjayakan pembangunan industri sarang burung walit di negara ini. Objektif serta strategi pelan induk ini adalah bertujuan untuk mencapai Bidang Keberhasilan Utama (KRA) dalam meningkatkan pengeluaran sarang burung walit daripada 250 tan metrik bernilai RM1 bilion pada tahun 2008 kepada 500 tan metrik dengan anggaran nilai sebanyak RM5 bilion pada tahun 2020.

Bagi mencapai pengeluaran yang telah dirancang, pelan induk pembangunan industri sarang burung walit ini menggariskan 7 Bidang Keberhasilan Utama yang perlu dicapai iaitu:

* Undang-undang dan peraturan serta garis panduan yang menyeluruh bagi pembangunan industri burung walit;
* Premis perladangan burung walit yang mapan dan mesra alam;
* Pengeluaran produk sarang burung walit bebas penyakit haiwan;
* Pembangunan peluang pemasaran dan pengiktirafan standard sarang burung walit di persada dunia;
* Peningkatan kecekapan dalam penghasilan produk melalui penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D);
* Mengadakan dana bagi perladangan dan pemprosesan sarang burung walit melibatkan penyertaan golongan miskin dan miskin tegar; dan
* Pembangunan guna tenaga manusia yang mahir dan cekap dalam membangunkan industri sarang burung walit.

Sehubungan itu, 1GP telah dibentangkan di Mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri pada 9 Julai 2010 dan telah diluluskan. Ia merangkumi Tatacara Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) MS 2237:2009 (P), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) dan Edible-Birdnest (EBN) – Spesifikasi MS 2334:2010 (P), Import/Eksport, Penyelarasan Jabatan Perancang Bandar dan Desa Semenanjung Malaysia, Pendaftaran, Perlesenan serta rujukan norma-norma berkaitan.

Di samping itu, garis panduan ini turut memperuntukkan kaedah pendaftaran premis burung walit di seluruh negara. Untuk tujuan ini, JPV akan membangunkan sistem pendaftaran premis penternakan burung walit melalui laman web burungwalit.com.my secara berperingkat-peringkat. Pendaftaran premis burung walit boleh dicapai oleh pelbagai pihak secara maya. Setiap premis akan diberikan nombor Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) bagi memudahkan pengenalan dan tindakan daya jejak. Kad pengenalan premis akan dikeluarkan oleh JPV. Pendaftaran premis burung walit boleh dibuat sehingga akhir tahun 2010. Akta Binatang 1953 (Kaedah-Kaedah Binatang – Pendaftaran Premis Burung Walit 2010) akan diwujudkan dan ketika ini sedang diteliti oleh Jabatan Peguam Negara.

Sehingga kini 5 buah loji pengeluaran produk sarang burung walit untuk eksport telah mendapat pensijilan Veterinary Health Mark (VHM). Eksport sarang walit terus menunjukkan peningkatan dan pasaran eksport ke negara China telah meningkat dari 4,965 kg tahun 2006 kepada 51,763 kg pada tahun 2007. Singapura, Hong Kong, Indonesia dan Taiwan juga merupakan pengimport utama sarang burung walit dari negara ini. Kebanyakan eksport sarang burung walit adalah dalam bentuk mentah (raw unclean).

Kesedaran awam perlu dipupuk bagi meningkat kefahaman yang jelas tentang industri walit dari aspek pengenalan burung walit serta kesan industri pada orang awam. Justeru, perusahaan walit memberi tambah nilai kepada eko-sistem, tanah terbiar dan hutan. Ini juga membantu dalam meningkatkan pendapatan kemiskinan bandar dan luarbandar dengan program yang telah dirangka oleh Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar.

Once upon a time, there was this minister who went to the Emperor and report that the people have no rice to eat. The Emperor replied, no rice then eat meat.

It's the same situation here, the Law makers that make the regulations and guidelines and Laws don't even know anything about swiftlets and the difficulties suffered by the farmers but pass regulations and laws on the matter without consulting the farmers.

If they really care and concerned, start with the least requirements and restrictions and then proceed from there...............advancement as you learn and improve. We have to start someway.........somehow and sometime.

can't seem to access the site..

Events have with time render the Petition moot and links to it will be removed from my signature from now on.
For the record it stands at 154 signatures.
Thanks all.

http://www.htatt.com or

http://theswiftlets.blogspot.com

Hi, i am selling some good and nice swiftlet sounds.... For more information, please contact this number..
019-9618333 Mr.Lim .

This post has been edited by joseph lim: Jul 16 2010, 02:06 PM