Swiftlet farming is expected to provide jobs for additional 20,800 people across the country by the year 2020.In stating this, Resource Development and Information Technology Assistant Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad said the Government realised the potential of swiftlet farming in Sabah is very high and therefore is encouraging all communities in the State to venture into this field.
"The Government is very supportive of this industry which is why the Government estimated job vacancies for this industry would amount to 20,800 by 2020.
"Therefore, it is important to introduce swiftlet house management skills training courses to the community to help the Government meet its target to be a major producer of bird's nest products in the world by the year 2020," said Jainab, while officiating at a Swiftlet's Nest entrepreneurship course, here, Saturday.
The one-day course attended by 70 potential swiftlet entrepreneurs was organised by Gain Forlife Sdn Bhd and Global Excellent Marketing Sdn Bhd (GEM).
Also present were Gain Forlife's Managing Director, Nelson Mosinoh, and GEM Chief Executive Officer, Abdul Aziz Mohammad Rejab, who shared their wisdom and knowledge in this field with the participants.
According to Jainab, recognising the enormous potential of the industry to the country, an allocation of RM1.8 billion (until 2020) had been provided by the Government under the Economic Transformation Programme and that the Government hoped to achieve a revenue of RM4.5 billion by 2020.
She also said the Government aimed to have a 40 per cent stake in the world bird nests market by then.
"To achieve this target, we need to increase bird nest production from 290 metric tonnes to 870 metric tonnes and step up downstream processing in the industry.
"In order to realise this target, our Prime Minister through Budget 2012, which was unveiled early this month, stated that the Government will strive to increase the number of the swiftlet houses in Sabah and Sarawak to 8,500 and to 4,500 in the peninsula.
"With this announcement, the Government will likely next year introduce a scheme to help eligible participants obtain financial assistance to start their business," said Jainab.
She said the industry could be run by rural Bumiputera entrepreneurs with the assistance channelled to them and that this could reduce poverty in these areas, especially in Sabah.
"This is because the industry can flourish in rural areas or villages as these places have bird food resources and also provides good returns on par with the plantation industry such as oil palm entrepreneurship," she added.
Story arrangement By: Harry George
Sources: Daily Express Sabah Online
Picture: Google Images
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