Yesterday, we attended a talk by the Dato(Federal) and his secretary on the development of swiftlets industry and after listening to their explanation, I told them that we aren't very happy about that the processed nests will be able to be exported and unprocessed nests which we farmers are more concerned.
No point taking about that the price will increase when the production started cos only 5% of the nests will be processed here and there will be no way that the price will go up and we are all at the mercy of the few processing plants. And even as we talk, our price can still maintain at this low price due to the smuggling of nests into China as there are demand and no supply legally or otherwise, your guess is as good as mine, all unprocessed nests can either throw into the sea or sell below Rm1K.
I told them that the authorities must allow unprocessed nests to be exported together with processed nests even China does not allow unprocessed nest in as what the authorities told us ( We don't know if that the truth or not) but we want our nests free passage out now for at least with that we can determine our own future and not up to the few Datos. Whether where or how the buyers are exporting really aren't our concerned at all or that or our Authorities....as they are buying here and exporting the nests on their own accord and the authorities cannot say that they have G2G reasons for not allowing to exporting of nests to China and how do they know that the buyers are really exporting to China thru 3rd.Countries and if so, then that's the matter for the other countries or China to take action and no rubbish of G2G matter as the 3rd.countries do not have the G2G agreement if there is one but who really care now as most of our fellow farmers are almost dying or already gone.
Giving excuses that the processed nests took over a year to be able to export and the unprocessed nests may take longer time meaning more than a year, I told them that they got it all wrong cos unprocessed nests are natural and has been health food for over hundreds years and nobody ever felt sick taking birdnests and so there should no reason for China or any countries to prevent the import of unprocessed nests. Only the processed nests are causing all the problems which include the recent Red incident so the negotiation on unprocessed nests should take no longer than a month because these nests are safe for consumption over hundreds of years and the importing countries esp. China will only need to monitor their own factories processing nests and that way, we can sell our nests like before and the Chinese authorities can control the quality of nests at their own country. So, the matter of RFID or Nitrate or Nitrite are of no importance then as the processing plants in their countries will be able to remove any excessive PPM or shit or feathers from the EBN during the processing. (My believe is that in nature, birdnest never go above 30ppm unless when store wet).
Disallowing exporting of unprocessed nests will only create more and more back stock of nests here and how to increase the price? Our neighboring country also cannot export their nests not because of the ban of exporting nests to China cos they all these years cannot do so legally anyway but now they cannot also export under water because the only country able to export also being banned from exporting due to the Red nest incidence.
Without our nests in China market, any nests found on shelf deem to be smuggled into China. Before, part of the nests exported legally thru Malaysia and the main consignment UW thru HK, thus legalize all 100% nests in China as all nests supposedly Malaysian nests even if they are of other countries origin.
Indo has signed the protocol to export in April this year but still cannot due to some problems but our case should be much easier. Indo now has really huge amount of nests and they are waiting for either countries to export only then they can safely put the nests on sales.........otherwise, all transactions of nests are done under counter even in Chang Ping, China.
Just my observation to share and if you disagree with me, I am very happy to hear from any of readers here exp some experienced exporters like KL, my friend. Really, I hope to see more involvement here to share their knowledge, experience and understandings so we can look forward with confidence and strength.
Added on October 23, 2012, 11:34 amQUOTE(mois @ Oct 21 2012, 09:04 PM)
I agreed with what you said. Sometimes i see less birds are returning. I thought the number of birds are decreasing, but to my surprise they are increasing. Back then my BH the swiftlet really fly in circle in order to get into the entrance. But now, i think they learn how to fly in without accident. And yes they dont fly in circle anymore. Like plane straight landing inside

It takes normally 30 minutes for all of the swiftlet to get inside.
In order to sustain huge population of bird, what else modification should be made on the BH? Do we really need to make the entrance bigger? How about during the night? If a floor is 60-70% populated, i guess the temperature generated by the birds quite high. I have no digital thermometer so i cannot record down the temperature at night. Only during the days at 27-29C.
Going back to case history again:
A neighbouring BH having over few thousands nests reduced his entrance to prevent night visit by thieves suddenly found that his BH's birds seem to be stagnant or even reduced as I have predicted it to happen but I didn't inform him cos his losses will surely be my gain. I cannot be blamed because I didn't provide him this solution not did he seek my advice on the matter..
After many months, he came to know why or someone must have informed him as we always have some laugh over his silly idea and now, he build a bigger than before entrance and his BH seem to be improving alot since the modification.
Instate of reducing entrance, he now put up a fence to prevent thieves from walking over to his shoplot's roof; a better alternative but very poor and ugly view I would say.
Anyone care to share their experience??
Added on October 23, 2012, 11:44 amQUOTE(philoswiflet @ Oct 21 2012, 10:13 PM)
Thanks for the successful seniors for enlightening us with how things will look down the road. I had often heard description of highly successful farms with the analogy of being in the presence of a swarm of bees; meaning the large number of birds inside a farm. One thing a farmer should do as his farm become increasingly populated; dismantle any unnecessary partitions so as to allow smoother flow of birds flying in the farm such as supposedly VIP rooms.
Concurred with your comment as when overcrowded, there shouldn't be any VIP seat or room like in the train and I must add that you may add in more planks so that the birds can build their nests on the planks instead of on the cemented wall.
This post has been edited by West Wing: Oct 23 2012, 05:50 PM