There are more commercial breeders of swiftlet birds in the Yangon Region, according to a commercial bird-nest producer. Currently, commercial farming is not widespread, but there are small-scale farmers.
“In Yangon, there are more commercial farmers. Small scale farming can be seen in other towns. There are more two-storey buildings with bird nests built upstairs and people living downstairs. As they need capital [for separate farming], farmers tend to do like that,” he said. Most of the private farms near Yangon are found in Htaukkyant, Hlinethaya, Okkan and other suburban townships. “These birds like quiet places. That’s why there are many farms in Htaukkyant, Hlaing Thaya, Okkan and Thitseikkone.
Land in these locations is not very expensive”, he continued.
China and Thailand are reportedly the main buyers of high-quality raw bird’s nests. “China and Thailand buy raw bird’s nest. They also purchase from our Bahan Bird’s Nest factory, as Myanmar products are better than those of Thailand. As it is organic farming, the quality is better,” he said.
As the Yangon city expands however, these bird nest factors are set to create negative externalities to the neighbouring houses and residents, through noice pollution and avian diseases, unless the government can create dedicated zones quickly to cater for the growth of these swiftlet farms.
