Swallows, wild birds lured into houses to nest in Vinh Long, are like birds spitting gold, making people rich.

Swiftlet farming in some places brings high economic value. However, not all localities and regions can do it. To develop the swiftlet farming sustainably in Vinh Long, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda to raise awareness of swiftlet farmers in complying with regulations...

Swiftlet farming in some places brings high economic value. However, not all localities and regions can do it.

To sustainably develop the bird's nest farming industry, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda to raise awareness of bird's nest farmers in complying with regulations, planning farming areas, and providing synchronous solutions.

High economic efficiency

According to the Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Medicine and Aquaculture (under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vinh Long province), the bird's nest farming profession in Vinh Long started later than in other provinces, with its beginnings recorded around 2010.

In 2022, Vinh Long ranked 34th out of 42 provinces and cities in terms of the number of birdhouses - among the 10 provinces with the lowest number of birdhouses in the country. By the end of 2023, the whole province had more than 150 birdhouses, with a bird's nest output of about 790 kg/year.

Bird's nest farms are evenly distributed in localities in the province. The main market for bird's nest is direct sales to consumers (50%), serving families (22%), the rest is sold to traders (15%) and exported outside the province (13%).

Starting to build a house to raise swiftlets 4 years ago, Mr. Nguyen Van Nghe (My Phuoc commune, Mang Thit district) said: “At first, I just wanted to try raising them to have products and income. But after seeing the effectiveness and great potential of the model of raising swiftlets, I opened another house.

I currently have 3 bird's nest houses, and I have also registered to produce and trade bird's nest products under the Ut Nghe brand. Up to now, there have been 4 products from raw bird's nest, refined bird's nest and bottled bird's nest, the bottled bird's nest product alone has just achieved 3-star OCOP product status."

According to many bird nest breeders, bird nests, also known as “heavenly gifts” or “golden birds”, have brought high income to breeders. However, in reality, this is not an “easy” job. Because, to attract birds into the house, it is necessary to master many techniques, design the house to have wind, light, ensure the hygiene of the barn, etc.

According to the assessment of the functional sector, most households raising swiftlets comply with regulations on raising areas, environmental protection and disease prevention. However, because the swiftlet farming industry in the province is newly developed, it is still spontaneous.

Some bird nest farming facilities still face difficulties in buying and selling bird nest products, do not have a stable market, investment in deep processing is limited, mainly consumed in the form of raw bird nest products, so the value is not high, not meeting the food safety requirements of the importing country...

In order for the bird's nest farming industry in Vinh Long to develop sustainably, it is necessary to synchronously implement solutions to strengthen the management of bird's nest farming.

Not to mention, there is a situation where some organizations and individuals come to the provinces to consult on building birdhouses, but the main purpose is to collect consulting fees and sell materials to build birdhouses without caring whether the birdhouses will come to live there or not after the house is built. This can cause great damage to the people and greatly affect the management of the industry.

Need many synchronized solutions

Recently, the authorities have also created favorable legal conditions for households raising swiftlets to operate, and have also paid attention to inspecting and reminding owners of swiftlet farms to ensure compliance with regulations in their operations.

However, in order for the bird's nest farming industry to develop sustainably, it is necessary to synchronously implement solutions to strengthen the management of bird's nest farming, strengthen control, handle problems and effectively exploit this economic resource.

In order to provide scientific and practical knowledge to help develop sustainably and increase the economic value of the bird's nest farming profession, the Department of Animal Husbandry has also issued basic technical guidelines on bird's nest farming.

Specifically, when choosing the area and location to build a house to raise swiftlets, in addition to complying with legal regulations, breeders need to survey the population distribution and biological habits of swiftlets.

Choose places with abundant food sources for swiftlets and a temperate microclimate; places with convenient transportation, electricity, and water; with surrounding space to ensure the swiftlets' flight path, biosafety for the swiftlet house and humans; places with little impact from noise, odors, dust, obstacles in the bird's flight path, etc.

It is necessary to ensure the best conditions for the growth, reproduction and development of the swiftlet flock. There should be a buffer zone between the swiftlet house and human living areas or sources of unsanitary conditions.

Must ensure bio-safety, prevent disease and improve farming efficiency. The completed birdhouse needs to be cleaned and odors, especially glue and cement, treated.

Depending on the number of nests, there are suitable exploitation solutions that do not affect the development of the bird population. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to 18 technical requirements for bird nests after preliminary processing and to keep a log of bird house management and a log of bird nest harvesting.

To help people access the regulations on bird's nest farming, Mr. Le Thanh Tung - Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries, said: The unit has also organized a conference to disseminate legal regulations on bird's nest farming, to inform farmers that bird's nest farming is a profession with conditions and legal regulations of the State.

At the same time, it is necessary to produce bird's nest products for export, not just for local consumption. Accordingly, bird's nest exports must comply with veterinary hygiene conditions, biosafety, and especially the quality of bird's nests and the requirements of the Protocol on quarantine requirements, veterinary hygiene inspection for imported bird's nest products, requirements for imported goods, etc.

In the coming time, the veterinary sector will organize guidance and inspection of the declaration of bird nest farming facilities, and recommend bird farming households to ensure food safety during the production, harvesting, transportation and processing of bird nest products locally.

Based on Decree No. 13/2020/ND-CP dated January 21, 2020 of the Government on detailed guidance on the Law on Animal Husbandry, the People's Council of Vinh Long province issued Resolution No. 05/2021/NQ-HDND stipulating areas within the inner city of cities, towns and townships where animal husbandry is not allowed and areas for raising swiftlets in the province.

Specifically, the areas where swiftlet farming is not allowed are the wards of Vinh Long City and Binh Minh Town; the towns of Long Ho, Mang Thit, Tam Binh, Vung Liem, Tra On, Binh Tan districts and residential areas located in the center of the communes. The areas where swiftlet farming is not allowed are outside the areas where farming is not allowed.

Source: https://danviet.vn/chim-yen-loai-chim-hoang-da-dan-du-vo-nha-lau-lam-to-o-vinh-long-vi-nhu-chim-nha-vang-dan-giau-20241118093212352.htm