Prospects for swiftlet farming

Việt Nam•16/08/2023

Vinh Long is focusing on supporting policies to sustainably develop swiftlet farming. In the photo: A swiftlet farm in Hoa Tinh commune, Mang Thit district.

The practice of raising swiftlets in man-made structures has been present in Vinh Long for about 5 years now. The industry is stable and brings significant economic benefits to farmers. Provincial authorities have been implementing various policies to support the sustainable development of swiftlet farming.

Many potentials

Vinh Long has the potential to develop swiftlet farming because its natural conditions are very suitable for this industry, such as: a relatively cool and stable climate, an average annual temperature of 27-28°C, clean air, low pollution, many green trees, canals, rivers, and large fields, which both create comfortable flying spaces and provide a rich and abundant food source for swiftlets.

The quiet environment increases the likelihood of attracting swiftlets to live and thrive there. Additionally, it allows access to existing swiftlet populations that are relatively large in neighboring provinces.

According to the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries, the number of swiftlet farms is on the rise. At the end of 2020, there were 62 swiftlet farms in the province, concentrated mainly in Binh Minh town and Long Ho district. By May 2023, there were 101 swiftlet farms, distributed across 8 districts, towns, and cities, supplying approximately 300 kg of swiftlet nests to the market annually. It is assessed that most swiftlet farmers comply with regulations regarding farming areas, environmental protection, and disease prevention and control.

Swiftlet farming requires significant investment to build houses for the swiftlets to live in, along with equipment to attract them. However, the cost of purchasing breeding stock and feed is negligible, as the swiftlets come to live there on their own and feed on small flying insects in nature, such as brown planthoppers, green planthoppers, termites, flies, mosquitoes, etc. These are agricultural pests, so swiftlets are used to protect crops.

On average, a 5-story swiftlet farming facility costs over 5 billion VND to build (excluding construction costs).

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoa (47 years old), the manager of a swiftlet farm in Son Dong hamlet (Thanh Duc commune, Long Ho district), said that building swiftlet farms, while generating high income, requires a large investment and carries high risks. It takes at least 3-4 years, and sometimes even 6-7 years, to recoup the investment. In other provinces, some households have suffered heavy losses because after building the farms, the swiftlets only fly around the houses without entering or only a few enter.

The swiftlet farm managed by Mr. Hoa has only been in operation for two years. The swiftlet population is not large; on average, he only harvests 1 kg of bird's nest once every three months. The selling price of bird's nest is 26 million VND per kilogram, and if the nests are cleaned, the price can reach 35 million VND.

Supporting the sustainable development of aquaculture.

To ensure the sustainable development of the swiftlet farming industry, the provincial authorities have recently created favorable legal conditions for swiftlet farmers to operate (such as granting building permits and permits for swiftlet farming...).

At the same time, attention is also paid to inspecting and reminding swiftlet farm owners to ensure compliance with regulations in their operations, especially regarding noise when using sound to attract swiftlets and environmental pollution around the farming area.

Based on Government Decree 13/2020/ND-CP dated January 21, 2020, providing detailed guidance on the Law on Livestock, on September 9, 2021, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 5/2021/NQ-HĐND stipulating areas where livestock farming is prohibited and areas for swiftlet farming in the province. This aims to regulate livestock farming activities, contribute to minimizing environmental pollution, prevent and control diseases, and promote the sustainable development of the province's livestock industry.

This serves as the basis for local authorities to implement the resolution, especially regarding licensing and management of aquaculture areas. The resolution is effective until January 1, 2025.

In addition, the resolution also stipulates policies to support training, vocational retraining, and credit assistance when relocating livestock facilities out of areas where livestock farming is prohibited, including swiftlet farms.

The province has issued policies to attract investment in the agricultural sector, specifically in Resolution No. 11/2020/NQ-HĐND dated July 7, 2020, of the Provincial People's Council, which stipulates policies to support credit to encourage businesses to invest in agriculture and rural areas in the province.

Accordingly, businesses wishing to invest in the livestock sector in general and swiftlet farming in particular will receive credit support with a loan limit not exceeding 70% of the total investment of the project; specifically: The interest rate support will be equal to the difference between the commercial loan interest rate and the preferential state credit interest rate, calculated on the actual outstanding balance at the time of reviewing the support application, with a maximum of 10 billion VND/project...

According to information from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries, China is the world's largest consumer market for bird's nests, with import volumes ranging from 180-300 tons per year in recent years, and Vietnam's bird's nest products are mainly exported to this country.

At the end of 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the General Administration of Customs of China signed a Protocol on quarantine, inspection, and veterinary hygiene for bird's nest products exported from Vietnam to China, which came into effect on November 9, 2022. This is an important opportunity and driving force for the development of Vietnam's bird's nest industry, ensuring stable output for the product and bringing very high economic benefits to the nation and localities.

The Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries has developed a plan to disseminate regulations on the export of bird's nests to China, following the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Animal Health, to businesses and suppliers in the province so that they are aware of and proactively implement the contents of the signed protocol.

Text and photos: MY TRUNG

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