KOTA KINABALU – The value of swiftlet bird’s nests in the state is expected to increase when the Beluran farmers’ organisation’s swiftlet bird’s nest processing centre begins operating this year.
Sabah Farmers’ Organisation Board production and business unit head Aqmal Asyraf Salleh said the operators involved would stand to gain as the guaranteed purchase price of bird’s nest could be increased to about RM4,000 per kg, and this could go higher according to its quality.
“If grade A swiftlet nest in the market is worth between RM3,000 to RM3,500 per kg, we can fetch higher prices by the time the processing centre is ready because there is no need to send them over to the peninsula for processing,” he said when met at the Malaysian Family Aspirations tour programme at the Sabah International Convention Centre here, which ends today.
In June 2020, Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee allocated RM1.4 million for the upgrading of the Beluran farmers’ organisation’s swiftlet birds’ nest processing centre.
When completed, the plant will benefit over 800 farmers in Beluran district and the surrounding areas..
Meanwhile, Aqmal said that through Jakim, the Farmers Organisation Board also gave visitors the opportunity to see a replica of a swiftlet bird’s nest.
He said the replica had attracted visitors to the ministry booth, and many were interested to know more about how to start a swiftlet house project and the processes involved. – Bernama, May 22, 2022
