Dear all,
My apology for haven't update my blog for quite sometime. I have been very busy with my work commitment (excuses...). However I never miss my track and always keeping myself updated especially the current swifltet farming industry in Malaysia (and China).
I have just made few trips to Perak and Pahang last week. I went to hilir Perak to inspect my BH which has just operated for 1.5 months.
For Pahang trip I have undergone detailed macro and micro area survey including bird call tests on a piece of 4 acres agricultural land in Raub. It was an exciting trip and the result is encouraging.
I will share this with you in my coming posts this week.
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Ready to Go
(Final Stage: Nesting Plank & Sound System Installation and Site Cleaning)
After 3.5 months in construction, my BH project in Selekoh, Perak is finally completed and now waiting for the official opening at the end of this month.
This BH was scheduled to be "activated" on 18/1/2012 but was slightly delayed due to some part of the internal building needs modification as instructed by the consultant before the nesting planks can be installed. The BH contractor and the consultant were very honest and be responsible in this regards as other people who has no experience might not even aware of it and it seems nothing wrong with it. I am glad to have worked with those guys.
They notified me that the contractor needs to do some ractification works but didn't explain further (certainly not with bad intention, I think they might think that it is quite hard for me to underatand the reason behind the rectification works).
But I have noticed the area that need to be modified even they didn't tell me where was it. Can you spot it from the picture below?
There was an approx. 75mm brickwall offset under the concrete beam due to the width of the beam is lesser than the double brick cavity wall (approx. 230mm). Structurally the beam is strong enough to support the load from the brickwall.
However this offset area might create other potential issues as this can become a very good spot for those predators (cockroaches, lizards, spiders, snakes, etc) to stay and yet be able to reach the nesting plank so easily.
The modifed works turned out was what as I expected. They have flushed the wall right up to the underside of the slab above for all floors. I was quite sure that the contractor was trying to fix tis therefore I didn't interfere more. Few days later they washed the entire area to reduce the cement smell and dry off before nesting plank installation take place. Since I have ordered the meranti nesting plank, we have to hold the plank deilvery for few more days as we only want the plank to be there after all these modification works were completed and cleaned. This is crucial in order to avoid any contamination to the plank.
I am glad this project has successfully completed despite I am currently in overseas. I will be back again in April to inspect the BH and also doing a site survey on another plot of land in Raub, Pahang for my next BH project.
Being a building designer and project manager in my career I really enjoyed coordinating and liaising with those guys (the contractor and the consultant) in venturing the world of swiftlet farming.
In my next post i will talk about works that I have done and prepared to the site (well i would say from A to M) before finding a right consultant and contractor to physically build the BH (from N to Z).
Happy Swiftlet Farming Venture
Friday, 3 February 2012
下霹燕屋執照費不起價
公會：與安順市會協商‧下霹燕屋執照費不起價
2012-02-01 11:07
- 吳亞乾：下霹靂燕屋業主可呈上養燕業條規課程證書副本，以舊有收費更新燕屋執照。（圖：星洲日報）
（霹靂‧安順31日訊）安順市議會改變初衷，同意讓下霹靂燕屋執照保持原有收費。
下霹靂養燕商公會理事吳亞乾說，之前養燕業者接到安順市議會來函表示，燕屋執照費將在2012年起價，其幅是面積2千800平方尺以下，每年240令吉提高到500令吉；面積2千800至4千200平方尺，每年360令吉調高到750令吉；面積超過4千200平方尺，每年500令吉漲至1千令吉。
他指出，該會會長吳亞成聯同總務林順福、理事蘇志雄、李順貴、李金帝、黃兆鴻、博明仕等人三度和市議會主席依布拉欣及高層職員洽談爭取，終於取得市議會同意，讓燕屋執照費保持原價。
需出示養燕業條規課程證書
“我們向依布拉欣說，燕窩目前價格低，如果執照費在這個時候起價，對整個燕窩業打擊不小。”
吳亞乾說，在市議會批准燕屋執照費不起價後，業者可以舊收費更新他們的燕屋執照，不過有關業主仍需出示他們的養燕業條規課程證書。
他說，最後一次的養燕業條規課程將在2月間在安順舉行，歡迎安順及其他地區業者報名參與。
他說，今後更新燕屋執照須出示這張證書，才能獲得地方議會批准。有意參與課程者可聯絡他，電話是016-5516631。（星洲日報／大霹靂）
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Dear all my apology as I haven't been update my post for the last two weeks as I have been busy with my works. I wasn't entirely being tied up by work, I have just surveyed a piece of land in Pahang which is close to the river for my next project. Its exciting and I will share with you later.
On the other hand my BH in Perak is currently in the process of installing nesting plank. I will complie those photos together with illustration of the BH construction and will post here real soon.
Stay tuned.
On the other hand my BH in Perak is currently in the process of installing nesting plank. I will complie those photos together with illustration of the BH construction and will post here real soon.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Identifying Land - Part 2
In determining the site and construction of BH for swiftlet farming, one must understand swiftlet's macrohabitat and daily activity rhythm. In general, all swiftlets show a similar pattern of daily activity.
Swiftlets will leave their roosting sites by day break (5.30am-6am) and return by dark (7.15pm-7.30pm). Swiftlets with hatchlings will return during mid day to feed their youngs. Their flying range is estimated to be in the radius of 25 to 40km. Studies have shown that swiftlets forage at different areas at different time of the day:
- Area of short plants (paddy field, grassland, bushes, etc): from 6 am to 9am & 3pm to 6pm.
- Area of woodlands (tall forests, palm oil plantations, fruit trees, etc): from 9am to 1pm.
- Area of waterbornes (wetlands, mangrove forest, swamps, ponds, rivers, sea, etc): from 1pm to 3pm.
The propotion of these areas is driven by the major insects activities and characteristics at those areas. For instance the waterborne areas generate relatively less flying insects in the early morning compare to afternoon. Warmer water surface during afternoon will enable insect eggs to hatch and hence produce more flying insects during that period.
Check the existing vegetation around your target land (40 km radius) in order to get the best timing for bird call test and also to determine swiftlets flying path at your land.
to be continued.....
Swiftlets will leave their roosting sites by day break (5.30am-6am) and return by dark (7.15pm-7.30pm). Swiftlets with hatchlings will return during mid day to feed their youngs. Their flying range is estimated to be in the radius of 25 to 40km. Studies have shown that swiftlets forage at different areas at different time of the day:
- Area of short plants (paddy field, grassland, bushes, etc): from 6 am to 9am & 3pm to 6pm.
- Area of woodlands (tall forests, palm oil plantations, fruit trees, etc): from 9am to 1pm.
- Area of waterbornes (wetlands, mangrove forest, swamps, ponds, rivers, sea, etc): from 1pm to 3pm.
The propotion of these areas is driven by the major insects activities and characteristics at those areas. For instance the waterborne areas generate relatively less flying insects in the early morning compare to afternoon. Warmer water surface during afternoon will enable insect eggs to hatch and hence produce more flying insects during that period.
Check the existing vegetation around your target land (40 km radius) in order to get the best timing for bird call test and also to determine swiftlets flying path at your land.
to be continued.....
Identifying Agricultural Land - Part 1
Although swiftlet activities can be seen almost everywhere in Malaysia and in theory swiftlet farm can be built in a lot of places, however I still think that finding a suitable location indeed is not an easy task.
I will focus on agricultural land in this post. In fact when I have decided to venture this field years ago I had decided to set up my first BH on agricultural land despite the draw backs:
1) Upfront capital will be a lot more higher. In addition the finance available for the agricultural & BH construction is quite limited and the borrowing margin is relatively low compared to commercial property. Alternatively you can refinance your property be it residential or commercial. (personally I prefer residential property for lower interest rate and longer/ lower monthly repayment.)
2) Finding the right land, right size with right price. Developing a swiftlet farm doesn't require a lot of space (BH itself) but sometimes it is not easy to find 1-2 acre land in a reasonable price as they tent to fatch higher price per acre due to the demand on those land size is high. Having more than few acres will certainly increase your upfront capital unless you are financially capable and reserve them for future BH development (if your existing BH can do well).
3) Even if one managed to find a reasonable size land, what about the electrical, water and road access? Does the site require extensive site work before the BH construction can begin? If so, one need to allow provision sum for that purpose.
I will focus on agricultural land in this post. In fact when I have decided to venture this field years ago I had decided to set up my first BH on agricultural land despite the draw backs:
1) Upfront capital will be a lot more higher. In addition the finance available for the agricultural & BH construction is quite limited and the borrowing margin is relatively low compared to commercial property. Alternatively you can refinance your property be it residential or commercial. (personally I prefer residential property for lower interest rate and longer/ lower monthly repayment.)
2) Finding the right land, right size with right price. Developing a swiftlet farm doesn't require a lot of space (BH itself) but sometimes it is not easy to find 1-2 acre land in a reasonable price as they tent to fatch higher price per acre due to the demand on those land size is high. Having more than few acres will certainly increase your upfront capital unless you are financially capable and reserve them for future BH development (if your existing BH can do well).
3) Even if one managed to find a reasonable size land, what about the electrical, water and road access? Does the site require extensive site work before the BH construction can begin? If so, one need to allow provision sum for that purpose.
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