A STUDY ON THE EDIBLE-NEST SWIFTLET MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION IN NORTH SUMATERA

Abstract

A survey-based study was conducted to study the farming management of ediblenest swifilet (C. fuciphaga) at various areas in the eastern part of North Sumatera, and production of edible swifilet nest of C. fuciphaga and C. maxima from houses and/or caves in North Sumatera. Nest from caves was mainly obtained from the western part of North Sumatera. The study was based on (i) observation of swiftlet-house environment, (ii) interviews with the swifilet-house owners at five cities along the way fiom Medan to Kisaran, and (m) data from government offices [Natural Resources Offices of the Ministry of Forestry and Regional/District
Oflices] as well as from other corresponding organizations, e.g. Cooperative and Farmers Association. Results showed that development of farming edible-nest swifilets raised high interests in all cities visited. Noted that in 1989-1990, swiftlet houses in Lubukpakam and Kisaran were only less than 10, but nowadays 1997] almost 300 to 400 swiftlet houses in each of the areas have been built. In term of famiing management, three distinct characteristics that are different from swifilet-houses in Java, are there is always ‘breeding room‘, ‘water pond‘ and wide entrance ['wind0ws'] for birds of every newly built house. Light breaking management was simple but effective to please bird to stay. Harvest management although varied between farmers, was carefully planned in order to maintain sustainable population. Recorded nest production for 1997 [up to September] for C. fuciphaga [house], C. fuciphaga [cave] and C. maxima [cave] were 4,485 kg, 650 kg and 5,750 kg, respectively. Annual producfion increases from 1994 for the corresponding species were 35.95 %, 14.05 % and 11.31 %, respectively.