What began as a simple curiosity about the value of edible bird’s nest has turned into a lucrative source of income for former teacher Hadi Salleh, who now earns a substantial living from selling the nests of wild swiftlets. Involved in the industry since 2011, Hadi, 55, harvests between 50 and 100 kilogrammes of nests annually, worth about RM100,000 depending on current market prices. “At first, I was simply curious about why swiftlet nests were so valuable. As I learned more, I realised their potential goes beyond health benefits (of consuming bird’s nest soup). With the right knowledge and strategy, entrepreneurs can generate a very good income from this business,” he told Bernama.