KIÊN GIANG — Kiên Giang Province’s People’s Committee Chairman Phạm Vũ Hồng has asked six departments and sectors to work with local authorities to re-examine the area for swallow nest farming in residential localities.

The committee has assigned the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to work with local authorities to formulate a development plan, which must include regulations on swallow nest farming in the province.

The development plan must ensure the management of the farming location, the use of sound to attract the birds, hygiene, disease control and other aspects.

The decision comes after a boom in bird nest farming in the province, which has had a negative impact on people’s lives and urban development.

According to statistics of the provincial authority, more than 700 households took part in swallow nest farming, mainly in the inner city and residential areas of Rạch Giá City, Hòn Đất, Châu Thành and Kiên Lương districts, as well as Hà Tiên Town.

Most of the households renovated their houses to serve as farms and used loudspeakers to lure birds, which caused disturbance to neighbours. Swallow nest farming also led to unhygienic conditions.

The development plan must be sent to the provincial People’s Committee for approval in the second quarter of this year.

The provincial departments of Natural Resources and Environment and Construction will be in charge of guiding local farming households to implement the regulations on environmental protection. They will also be responsible for regularly inspecting and fining violators.

The Department of Health will work with the relevant authorities to take measures to prevent diseases, as well as supervise the processing of bird nests to ensure food hygiene and safety requirements.

The sub-department of Animal Health, on the other hand, will focus on controlling the building of bird nest houses, which must meet farming requirements.

Since March 12, local households that fail to get environmental and construction licences are required to apply for their documents within six months, Hồng said. — VNS