Farmers' Market To Combat WTO Impact + BIO-FUELS + ANTARCTIC TOURISM

May 22, 2007

In This NEWS Bulletin ********************************* 1. FARMERS' OWN MARKET TO COMBAT ADVERSE EFFECTS IN WTO REGIME - `No role for middlemen in product selling' 2. Seven global firms offer to supply over 1 million tonne of wheat to India - India importing wheat by lowering tariff to zero, despite good production BIO-FUEL ISSUE 3. Bio-fuel policy on the

cards - Group of ministers (GoM) likely to resolve bio-diesel row this week ANTARCTIC TOURISM 4. The Penguin travellers - Yes, now you can quite literally go to the end of the world, to the polar icecaps of Antarctica - FARMERS' OWN MARKET TO COMBAT ADVERSE EFFECTS IN WTO

REGIME `No role for middlemen in product selling' http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164731 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Monday, May 21, 2007 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, MAY 20: Farmers have benefited when the consumers directly purchase their produces from them. This eliminates the role of a chain of middlemen and consumers get the benefit of fresh produces at reasonable rates, said trade and management experts. The study entitled ‘Meeting Local Demands for Vegetable & Fruits—The Dynamics of Farmers’ Market’ conducted by Murali Kallummal of the Centre for WTO Studies in the Delhi-based Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and K Sakhi Srinivasan

of the department of management studies in Kongru Arts and Science College, Erode, Tamil Nadu urged the policymakers to promote such farmers’ markets in the interests of livelihood and food security. Both Kallummal and Srinivasan undertook the case study on the operation of Uzhavar Sandhai (farmers’ market) in Tamil Nadu. “What Uzhavar Sandhai has done effectively in Tamil Nadu is to create a better market for the products of poor, small and marginal farmers with fixed prices and informed consumers,” they said. Uzhavar Sandhai is in operation in Tamil Nadu since 1999 with first such farmers’ market being set up in Madurai. As per 2002 data, there are about 102 Uzhavar Sandhais in various urban centres in Tamil Nadu. “It has survived despite inadequate support from the government, which has focused its energies behind the promotion of self-help groups (SHGs), providing them with

infrastructure and soft bank loans. Therefore, the Uzhavar Sandhais have survived purely because of the merits in their unique system of marketing,” the study said. The study commissioned by the Oxfam GB in India noted Uzhavar Sandhais located in important centres in urban areas. Farmers is allotted a space where he can sell his produces. The government has set up marketing committees to identify farmers and give them a permit or identity card. Farmers do not pay any rent or commission. The marketing committee fixes the prices of fruits and vegetables which holds good for the whole day. Uzhavar Sandhai had its birth in the concept of Kal Ghoj in Russia. The former Union agriculture secretary, MS Gill on his visit to this country was impressed by this concept of farmers’ market and he replicated this concept by initiating Apna Mandis in Punjab and Haryana in early 1987. The then ruling DMK

government in Tamil Nadu subsequently replicated this concept in 1999 in the form of Uzhavar Sandhais. Andhra Pradesh followed suit and started the Ryothu Bazar on similar lines. Both Kallummal and Srinivasan asserted the relevance of Uzhavar Sandhais and said that it can protect the farmers from the impact of falling prices caused by opening up for cheap imports and distorted trade practices in the WTO regime. “The trade policies pursued by the government since 1990s have been taking the country towards a tariff-alone approach, which has opened the economy to large imports of much cheaper agricultural goods and has threatened the very livelihood of both agricultural labour and small farmers. On many occasions, Indian imports of vegetables and fruits have displaced an equivalent demand for the same produced in the country, which has direct impact on prices that farmers get. Therefore Uzhavar Sandhai are better

options,“ they said. The study said that Uzhavar Sandhais concept is beneficial to small and marginal farmers who can bring limited quantity of produces which they cannot sell in the wholesale markets. The farmers need no training. It helps them in sensing demand and planning cultivation of crops. Besides, the perishable produces of farmers get a ready market. The study, however, highlights some problems the farmers face in the operation of the system like transport, market timings and shortage of sheds on busy weekends. It suggested that these problems should be resolved on priority.------ Seven global firms offer to supply over 1 mt

of wheat http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164812 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, MAY 21: Seven global bidders are in the fray for supply of over one million tonne of wheat to India in response to the recent tender floated by the State Trading Corporation of India. These include Cargill, Glencore International AG and Alfred E Toepfer International of Germany, Adani Global, Adani India on behalf of Archer Daniels Midlands of US, Rayas Trading and Concordia. The bids quoted are in the range of $267-302 per tonne on cost & freight (C & F) basis. Majority of the bidders quoted prices around $296 a tonne. STC had floated the tender on May 1 for import of one million tonne of wheat on government account. According to STC sources, the bids are slated to be finalised within the next 10 days. According to the tender stipulations, wheat should be imported in May, June and July in staggered shipments through five entry ports, including Mundra, Kandla, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam or Kakinada and Tuticorin. However, no bidder offered to supply wheat at Tuticorin port by July, sources said. Toepfer offered to supply 120,000 tonne of wheat at Kandla port for $284 a tonne and at Chennai port for $287.34 a tonne. It also offered to supply an additional 500,000 tonnes for $290 a tonne by September. Cargill, however, offered to supply

80,000 tonnes for $ 302 a tonne at Tuticorin port by September. "We have agreed to supply more than one million tonne of wheat. We are waiting for the government to further relax quarantine norms," a bidder said. Glencore has agreed to supply 400,000 tonnes for $295 a tonne, while Cargill has offered to supply 160,000 tonnes for $290 a tonne. According to the official estimates, wheat output in the current year is 73.7 million tonnes against an estimated demand of about 60 million tonnes. The government is importing wheat to build buffer stock for meeting any contingency, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said. "If need arise we may import more wheat," he said. At present, government agencies procure around 10 million tonnes of heat from farmers.------------ Bio-fuel policy on the cards GoM likely to resolve bio-diesel row this week http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164738 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Monday, May 21, 2007 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, MAY 20: The group of ministers(GoM) headed by the Union agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar is likely to meet this week resolve the inter-ministerial tussle regarding measures to promote bio-fuel in the country. The Union ministry for new and renewable energy has suggested setting up of a National Bio-fuel Development Board and formulation of a National Bio-fuel Policy which includes determination of minimum support prices (MSPs) for bio-fuel crops like jatropha,

karanjaseeds and oilbearing materials. The Union rural development ministry, on the otherhand, has demanded a gross budgetary support of Rs 1,340 crore. For a period of five year for setting up of the National Mission on Bio-diesel and the launch of its first demonstration phase of jatropha cultivation in 400,000 hectare of wastelands held the government, community and panchayats. It also includes a self-sustaining programme for jatropha cultivation in 11.2 million

hectare land for achieving a target of 20% blending of bio-fuel with fossil oil. The rural development ministry has given in details the expenditure to be incurred for raising nursery seedlings, plantation, R & D and administrative cost. It has said that biofuel crops can be cultivated on 4.315 million hectare identified wastelands. It has also mooted a proposal for setting up of a National Bio-diesel Mission to identify and lay down the framework for supply of quality planting material, for planning and coordination and investment in R & D, training and capacity building, coordinating backward and forward linkages between farmers and the industry. The Union ministry of new and renewable energy has proposed a National Bio-fuel Policy and setting up of the National Bio-fuel Development Board. Under the proposed policy, it has suggested that minimum support prices (MSPs) for bio-fuel crops should be fixed by the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices, till the National Bio-fuel Board becomes fully operational. Government should render financial support to oil processors for a period of five years. Industry should be encourage to produce ethanol directly from sugarcane, in cane surplus areas. Imports of bio-fuels and ethanol should be done to the extent necessary. The National Bio-fuel Development Board should be chaired by the prime minister but the ministry of new and renewable energy would be the nodal agency.

------- The Penguin travellers Yes, now you can quite literally go to the end of the world, to the polar icecaps of Antarctica http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164658 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 0000 hours IST Taking a vacation for a well-heeled Indian may mean a trip to Europe with an essential stopover at

Amsterdam. Within the country, it could involve a trek to the Himalayas or lazing around in the backwaters of Kerala or a binge in Goa. But for those who want to experience a totally unconventional holiday and escape the summer heat, Antarctica is the place to be. The icy continent of Antarctica is not only meant for scientists and die-hard adventurers. With its unspoiled panoramic beauty, it is increasingly becoming a tourist hotspot. Although Antarctic tourism began in the late 1950s, it remained at low levels until the early 1990s when it took off. From a base of 4,698 tourists in the 1990-91 summer, annual numbers rose to 24,281 in the summer of 2003-04, to about 38,000 in 2006-07. This season the number is slated to increase upto 50,000. Industry figures project a continuing increase in tourism numbers through this decade. But if one adds the staff and crew to passengers, the figure for each year is likely to increase by at least

20,000. More tourists than scientists and support staff on national programmes in the region now visit the Antarctic each year. “When the Antarctica Treaty was drafted in 1959, no one conceived that it would become so popular. The idea is not to discourage tourism, but putting regulations in place,” says Union minister for earth sciences, Kapil Sibal. Apprehending possible damage that may be caused to the fragile environment, the 46-nation body responsible for the protection of the icy continent took a decision to regulate tourism in the 30th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) which concluded in Delhi on May 11, 2007. However, the growing $ 300 million industry is not worried about the new regulations. It is a niche industry growing gradually and business will run as usual, they say. Some tour operators for a trip to Antarctica • Abercrombie

and Kent/ Atholl Shipping corporation, USA (ww.abercombiekent.com) • Adventure Associates, Australia (www.adventureassociates.com)• Aurora Expeditions, Australia www.auroraexpeditions.com • Compaigne Des Iles Du Ponant, Francewww.ponant.com • Fathom Expeditions, Inc., Canadawww.fathomexpeditions.comBooking for the trip has to be done for a minimum of 10 days. The average cost for the trip is $ 7,000. Ships leave for Antarctica from: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America. “We have been regulating ourselves all these years so that no damage is caused to the environment. The 30th ATCM has adopted most of our suggestions,” says ED of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), Denise Landau. The 30th ATCM urged the national governments not to permit tour operators to carry more than 500 passengers in a vessel. It called upon the tour operators to coordinate with each other so that only one tourist vessel land at a particular site at any given time. The new law also limits landing of tourists on the shore to hundred at a given time and the guide-to-passenger ratio should be 1:20. Landau says not all tourists land at the shore. Some of them prefer to stay in the ship. "Out of about 38,000 tourists in 2006-07, 10,000 did not land at the shore.” IAATO set up in 1991 is the apex body and now has 83 tour operators from 13 countries like Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. Some major members of IAATO are Abercrombie and Kent Inc,

Adventure Associates, Elegant Cruises, Heritage Expeditions, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten GroupOrion Expedition Cruise, Polar Star Expeditions, Travel Dynamics Int and Zegrahm Expeditions. About 48 vessels and luxury yachts carry tourists every year and IAATO since over a decade has been coordinating in a planned manner. About 48 vessels and luxury yatches carry tourists every year and IAATO since over a decade has been coordinating in a planned manner. “The carriers are of varying sizes – some carry 500 passengers, some 200 and the luxury yatches carry even less,” says Landau. The booking for the tour is for a minimum of 10 days, which costs around $ 7,000, to about three weeks. The sea-borne vessels leave for Antarctica from ports located in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America, from where it’s a two-day travel. From Australia and New Zealand it takes five days, from South Africa it is

a week’s journey. The rush of tourists is usually from countries like Australia, US, Netherlands, Chile, Germany, Canada, France, Norway, UK, Russia and Argentina. “Tourists from India are almost negligible”, says Landau and adds “we do not have any tourist operator from India as our member, but those willing to tour can tie up with a recognised travel agent for booking.” says Landau. IAATO ensures that camp sites are located at least 450 ft away from nesting birds, including penguins and are located on snow or bare rock, rather than gravel where ground could be flattened by tent sites or organic debris may be a problem. Each campsite is used for no more than a few nights per season. Toilets are ashore and human waste is returned to ship and meals are eaten only on board the ship. Some travel companies arrange for climbing and kayaking, particularly in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Some offer scuba driving. An underwater remotely operated vessel (ROV) is used for educational purpose. Apart from sea-borne tourism, air-supported and “fly-sail” operations are gradually increasing. In 2006-07 there were about 1,046 passengers who flew and did not land, while about 908 passengers of air flights landed. The 30th ATCM, however, did not deliberate upon air-borne tourism but called upon parties to “discourage any tourism activities which may substantially contribute to the long-term degradation of the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems.” It also called for preservation of “Antarctic historic sites and monuments”, specially protected and managed areas and conservation of Southern Giant Petrel. It formulated site guidelines for visitors. The NGO body, Antarctic Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), however, has a mixed response to the new tourism regulatory regime. “It is

just a beginning of regulatory regime to save the icy continent. We wanted to prevent setting up of any tourist infrastructure ashore and stop the use of very large cruise liners,” said ASOC senior advisor, Alan D Hemmings. Heminngs said “there are over 50 research bases set up by different countries in Antarctica. New research bases are likely to be up set. We want approvals for new research bases should be with a rider – they should not duplicate existing work undertaken. We want a synergy in research work and use of existing infrastructure. This will stop unnecessary mushrooming of research bases.” ------------

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June 3, 2007

However there is one doubt regarding the benefit of the farmers market though there is no doubt that the farmers would get benefit and probably productivity will also go up. The doubt is from the purchasers' point of view. Which segment of the purchasers would get the benefit? Will the middle class or the upper class will have the benefit or even the lower middle class or the poorer section of the people would also get the benefit. And what about the unemployment of many in the process? So a very careful planning will be necessary to see that the benefits do not go a particular segment.Shantu Sharma <shantu_22003 wrote: In This NEWS Bulletin ********************************* 1. FARMERS' OWN MARKET TO COMBAT ADVERSE EFFECTS IN WTO REGIME - `No role for middlemen in product selling' 2. Seven global firms offer to supply over 1 million tonne of wheat to India - India importing wheat by lowering tariff to zero, despite good production BIO-FUEL ISSUE 3. Bio-fuel policy on the cards - Group of ministers (GoM) likely to resolve bio-diesel row this week ANTARCTIC TOURISM 4. The Penguin travellers - Yes, now you can quite literally go to the end of the world, to the polar icecaps of Antarctica - FARMERS' OWN MARKET TO COMBAT

ADVERSE EFFECTS IN WTO REGIME `No role for middlemen in product selling' http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164731 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Monday, May 21, 2007 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, MAY 20: Farmers have benefited when the consumers directly purchase their produces from them. This eliminates the role of a chain of middlemen and consumers get the benefit of fresh produces at reasonable rates, said trade and management experts. The study entitled ‘Meeting Local Demands for Vegetable & Fruits—The Dynamics of Farmers’ Market’ conducted by Murali Kallummal of the Centre for WTO Studies in the Delhi-based Indian

Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and K Sakhi Srinivasan of the department of management studies in Kongru Arts and Science College, Erode, Tamil Nadu urged the policymakers to promote such farmers’ markets in the interests of livelihood and food security. Both Kallummal and Srinivasan undertook the case study on the operation of Uzhavar Sandhai (farmers’ market) in Tamil Nadu. “What Uzhavar Sandhai has done effectively in Tamil Nadu is to create a better market for the products of poor, small and marginal farmers with fixed prices and informed consumers,” they said. Uzhavar Sandhai is in operation in Tamil Nadu since 1999 with first such farmers’ market being set up in Madurai. As per 2002 data, there are about 102 Uzhavar Sandhais in various urban centres in Tamil Nadu. “It has survived despite inadequate support from the government, which has focused its energies behind the

promotion of self-help groups (SHGs), providing them with infrastructure and soft bank loans. Therefore, the Uzhavar Sandhais have survived purely because of the merits in their unique system of marketing,” the study said. The study commissioned by the Oxfam GB in India noted Uzhavar Sandhais located in important centres in urban areas. Farmers is allotted a space where he can sell his produces. The government has set up marketing committees to identify farmers and give them a permit or identity card. Farmers do not pay any rent or commission. The marketing committee fixes the prices of fruits and vegetables which holds good for the whole day. Uzhavar Sandhai had its birth in the concept of Kal Ghoj in Russia. The former Union agriculture secretary, MS Gill on his visit to this country was impressed by this concept of farmers’ market and he replicated this concept by initiating Apna Mandis in

Punjab and Haryana in early 1987. The then ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu subsequently replicated this concept in 1999 in the form of Uzhavar Sandhais. Andhra Pradesh followed suit and started the Ryothu Bazar on similar lines. Both Kallummal and Srinivasan asserted the relevance of Uzhavar Sandhais and said that it can protect the farmers from the impact of falling prices caused by opening up for cheap imports and distorted trade practices in the WTO regime. “The trade policies pursued by the government since 1990s have been taking the country towards a tariff-alone approach, which has opened the economy to large imports of much cheaper agricultural goods and has threatened the very livelihood of both agricultural labour and small farmers. On many occasions, Indian imports of vegetables and fruits have displaced an equivalent demand for the same produced in the country, which has direct impact on prices

that farmers get. Therefore Uzhavar Sandhai are better options,“ they said. The study said that Uzhavar Sandhais concept is beneficial to small and marginal farmers who can bring limited quantity of produces which they cannot sell in the wholesale markets. The farmers need no training. It helps them in sensing demand and planning cultivation of crops. Besides, the perishable produces of farmers get a ready market. The study, however, highlights some problems the farmers face in the operation of the system like transport, market timings and shortage of sheds on busy weekends. It suggested that these problems should be resolved on priority.------ Seven global firms

offer to supply over 1 mt of wheat http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164812 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, MAY 21: Seven global bidders are in the fray for supply of over one million tonne of wheat to India in response to the recent tender floated by the State Trading Corporation of India. These include Cargill, Glencore International AG and Alfred E Toepfer International of Germany, Adani Global, Adani India on behalf of Archer Daniels Midlands of US, Rayas Trading and Concordia. The bids quoted are in the range of $267-302 per tonne on cost & freight (C & F) basis. Majority of the bidders quoted prices around $296 a tonne. STC had floated the tender on May 1 for import of one million tonne of wheat on government account. According to STC sources, the bids are slated to be finalised within the next 10 days. According to the tender stipulations, wheat should be imported in May, June and July in staggered shipments through five entry ports, including Mundra, Kandla, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam or Kakinada and Tuticorin. However, no bidder offered to supply wheat at Tuticorin port by July, sources said. Toepfer offered to supply 120,000 tonne of wheat at Kandla port for $284 a tonne and at Chennai port for $287.34 a tonne. It also offered to supply an additional 500,000 tonnes for $290 a tonne by September. Cargill, however, offered to supply 80,000 tonnes for $ 302 a tonne at Tuticorin port by September. "We have agreed to supply more than one million tonne of wheat. We are waiting for the government to further relax quarantine norms," a bidder said. Glencore has agreed to supply 400,000 tonnes for $295 a tonne, while Cargill has offered to supply 160,000 tonnes for $290 a tonne. According to the official estimates, wheat output in the current year is 73.7 million tonnes against an estimated demand of about 60 million tonnes. The government is importing wheat to build buffer stock for meeting any contingency, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said. "If need arise we may import more wheat," he said. At

present, government agencies procure around 10 million tonnes of heat from farmers.------------ Bio-fuel policy on the cards GoM likely to resolve bio-diesel row this week http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164738 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Monday, May 21, 2007 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, MAY 20: The group of ministers(GoM) headed by the Union agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar is likely to meet this week resolve the inter-ministerial tussle regarding measures to promote bio-fuel in the country. The Union ministry for new and renewable energy has suggested setting up of a National Bio-fuel Development Board and formulation of a National Bio-fuel Policy which includes determination of minimum support prices (MSPs) for bio-fuel crops like jatropha, karanjaseeds and oilbearing materials. The Union rural development ministry, on the otherhand, has demanded a gross budgetary support of Rs 1,340 crore. For a period of five year for setting up of the National Mission on Bio-diesel and the launch of its first demonstration phase of jatropha cultivation in 400,000 hectare of wastelands held the government, community and panchayats. It also includes a self-sustaining programme for jatropha cultivation in 11.2 million hectare land for achieving a target of 20% blending of bio-fuel with fossil oil. The rural development ministry has given in details the expenditure to be incurred for raising nursery seedlings, plantation, R & D and administrative cost. It has said that biofuel crops can be cultivated on 4.315 million hectare identified wastelands. It has also mooted a proposal for setting up of a National Bio-diesel Mission to identify and lay down the framework for supply of quality planting material, for planning and coordination and investment in R & D, training and capacity

building, coordinating backward and forward linkages between farmers and the industry. The Union ministry of new and renewable energy has proposed a National Bio-fuel Policy and setting up of the National Bio-fuel Development Board. Under the proposed policy, it has suggested that minimum support prices (MSPs) for bio-fuel crops should be fixed by the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices, till the National Bio-fuel Board becomes fully operational. Government should render financial support to oil processors for a period of five years. Industry should be encourage to produce ethanol directly from sugarcane, in cane surplus areas. Imports of bio-fuels and ethanol should be done to the extent necessary. The National Bio-fuel Development Board should be chaired by the

prime minister but the ministry of new and renewable energy would be the nodal agency. ------- The Penguin travellers Yes, now you can quite literally go to the end of the world, to the polar icecaps of Antarctica http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164658 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 0000 hours IST Taking a vacation for a well-heeled Indian may mean a

trip to Europe with an essential stopover at Amsterdam. Within the country, it could involve a trek to the Himalayas or lazing around in the backwaters of Kerala or a binge in Goa. But for those who want to experience a totally unconventional holiday and escape the summer heat, Antarctica is the place to be. The icy continent of Antarctica is not only meant for scientists and die-hard adventurers. With its unspoiled panoramic beauty, it is increasingly becoming a tourist hotspot. Although Antarctic tourism began in the late 1950s, it remained at low levels until the early 1990s when it took off. From a base of 4,698 tourists in the 1990-91 summer, annual numbers rose to 24,281 in the summer of 2003-04, to about 38,000 in 2006-07. This season the number is slated to increase upto 50,000. Industry figures project a continuing increase in tourism numbers through this decade. But if one adds the staff and crew to passengers, the figure for each

year is likely to increase by at least 20,000. More tourists than scientists and support staff on national programmes in the region now visit the Antarctic each year. “When the Antarctica Treaty was drafted in 1959, no one conceived that it would become so popular. The idea is not to discourage tourism, but putting regulations in place,” says Union minister for earth sciences, Kapil Sibal. Apprehending possible damage that may be caused to the fragile environment, the 46-nation body responsible for the protection of the icy continent took a decision to regulate tourism in the 30th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) which concluded in Delhi on May 11, 2007. However, the growing $ 300 million industry is not worried about the new regulations. It is a niche industry growing gradually and business will run as usual, they say. Some tour operators for a

trip to Antarctica • Abercrombie and Kent/ Atholl Shipping corporation, USA (ww.abercombiekent.com) • Adventure Associates, Australia (www.adventureassociates.com)• Aurora Expeditions, Australia www.auroraexpeditions.com • Compaigne Des Iles Du Ponant, Francewww.ponant.com • Fathom Expeditions, Inc., Canadawww.fathomexpeditions.comBooking for the trip has to be done for a minimum of 10 days. The average cost for the trip is $ 7,000. Ships leave for Antarctica from: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America. “We have been regulating ourselves all these years so that no damage is caused to the environment. The 30th ATCM has adopted most of our suggestions,” says ED of the International Association of Antarctica

Tour Operators (IAATO), Denise Landau. The 30th ATCM urged the national governments not to permit tour operators to carry more than 500 passengers in a vessel. It called upon the tour operators to coordinate with each other so that only one tourist vessel land at a particular site at any given time. The new law also limits landing of tourists on the shore to hundred at a given time and the guide-to-passenger ratio should be 1:20. Landau says not all tourists land at the shore. Some of them prefer to stay in the ship. "Out of about 38,000 tourists in 2006-07, 10,000 did not land at the shore.” IAATO set up in 1991 is the apex body and now has 83 tour operators from 13 countries like Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. Some major

members of IAATO are Abercrombie and Kent Inc, Adventure Associates, Elegant Cruises, Heritage Expeditions, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten GroupOrion Expedition Cruise, Polar Star Expeditions, Travel Dynamics Int and Zegrahm Expeditions. About 48 vessels and luxury yachts carry tourists every year and IAATO since over a decade has been coordinating in a planned manner. About 48 vessels and luxury yatches carry tourists every year and IAATO since over a decade has been coordinating in a planned manner. “The carriers are of varying sizes – some carry 500 passengers, some 200 and the luxury yatches carry even less,” says Landau. The booking for the tour is for a minimum of 10 days, which costs around $ 7,000, to about three weeks. The sea-borne vessels leave for Antarctica from ports located in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America, from where it’s a two-day travel. From Australia and New

Zealand it takes five days, from South Africa it is a week’s journey. The rush of tourists is usually from countries like Australia, US, Netherlands, Chile, Germany, Canada, France, Norway, UK, Russia and Argentina. “Tourists from India are almost negligible”, says Landau and adds “we do not have any tourist operator from India as our member, but those willing to tour can tie up with a recognised travel agent for booking.” says Landau. IAATO ensures that camp sites are located at least 450 ft away from nesting birds, including penguins and are located on snow or bare rock, rather than gravel where ground could be flattened by tent sites or organic debris may be a problem. Each campsite is used for no more than a few nights per season. Toilets are ashore and human waste is returned to ship and meals are eaten only on board the ship. Some travel companies arrange for climbing and

kayaking, particularly in the Antarctic Peninsula. Some offer scuba driving. An underwater remotely operated vessel (ROV) is used for educational purpose. Apart from sea-borne tourism, air-supported and “fly-sail” operations are gradually increasing. In 2006-07 there were about 1,046 passengers who flew and did not land, while about 908 passengers of air flights landed. The 30th ATCM, however, did not deliberate upon air-borne tourism but called upon parties to “discourage any tourism activities which may substantially contribute to the long-term degradation of the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems.” It also called for preservation of “Antarctic historic sites and monuments”, specially protected and managed areas and conservation of Southern Giant Petrel. It formulated site guidelines for visitors. The NGO body, Antarctic Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), however, has a mixed

response to the new tourism regulatory regime. “It is just a beginning of regulatory regime to save the icy continent. We wanted to prevent setting up of any tourist infrastructure ashore and stop the use of very large cruise liners,” said ASOC senior advisor, Alan D Hemmings. Heminngs said “there are over 50 research bases set up by different countries in Antarctica. New research bases are likely to be up set. We want approvals for new research bases should be with a rider – they should not duplicate existing work undertaken. We want a synergy in research work and use of existing infrastructure. This will stop unnecessary mushrooming of research bases.” ------------ Office firewalls, cyber cafes, college labs, don't allow you to download CHAT? Here's a solution!

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