This Swiftlet Farm is about a Km from Dr.Hj Md's land
Many fish farms and ponds around here.
The Asbestos wall Swiftlet farm
Another view. Ventilated roof
Open Roof concept
A closer look at the wall
Last week I was invited by Dr.Haji Md from Shah Alam to do a
Swiftlet farming feasibility survey at Carey Island. He is a medical
practitioner by profession who is very
keen in Swiftlet farming. He spends most of his free time reading Swiftlet
farming blogs and searching information on the web. He used to be a golf
Enthusiast but not anymore as he finds Swiftlet farming more exciting and
challenging.
He had called me a week earlier to plan for this meet up. He
has a piece of land of 8 acres located
here next to a river surrounded by mangrove. Around the vicinity there were few Standalones built a few years
ago.
I told him he may do the feasibility survey himself as there
are many information on the web now. It would be easy for him to access
the potential of the area as there were already few stand-alone around that
vicinity.
But Dr.Hj Md thinks differently. He wants my opinions and
expertise cited “the best is leave it to the experts”. With a laugh, I replied, “there are many experts, and Sifus
out there you could engage why me?”.
He replied, “I know who I can trust” with this
reply from a Pak Haji I rest my case and set to visit his land.
A beautiful area, a very potential area of Swiftlet
farming. A large lowland area with Oil
palm plantations pushing towards the mangrove with small Kampong houses located
along the small tar road leading to his 8 acres land. It took us about 45 minutes drive from Tg.
Panglima Garang. I have been there a few
times as my contractor had built a few units of Standalone there. I told Dr. Hj Md this is a potential area,
and it is important to know the best site to build a Swiftlet farm on the 8
acres of land. 8 acres are not a small
area, a wrong building site and a wrong Entrance hold position would restrict
the growth of the farm in the future.
As we reached the site I noticed a Standalone located about
a kilometer away from his land. It looks
familiar, it could have been there for a few years. The design captured my attention. The walls were built with asbestos. This is the work of my contractor…yes it is. I immediately call my contractor.
“I am at the Standalone you had built in Carey Island… the one with
asbestos walls…”
“Oh Yes Boss, what are you doing there?”
“My client wants to build a Swiftlet farm here…so how is the performance of the
Swiftlet farm you had built….. the one with asbestos walls?”
“ Boss not bad Boss…blah…blah..
We discussed the performance of that Standalone which I
can’t reveal here due to security reason. All I could say it is very
satisfactory.
The outer walls were not plastered. Wooden structures were
erected, and asbestos were nailed on these wooden structures. This is to
reduce the temperature on the wall.
The ground floor is reinforced with double layer bricks plastered smooth to prevent theft and the 2 upper floors are with single
layered bricks with asbestos. The asbestos works as cooling fins. As a
result, a cooler internal environment and lower cost of construction.
We spent few hours touring the surrounding area. There are
many fish farms and fishing ponds not far from his land. These farms and ponds produce
lots of insects which are the food sources of Swiftlet.
The environment is perfect for Swiftlet farming far away
from development with plenty of vegetation.
From the field and location survey, now I have to come up
with a detailed plan on where to build a Swiftlet farm on this 8 acres land.
I had also explained to him what constitutes a successful
Swiftlet farm. The design of a Swiftlet farm is utmost important.
It was a great meeting, and I hope to see Dr.Hj Md soon.
Good Swiftlet farming All!
