Farmers in parts of Colombia are experiencing a collapse in sales of coca, the raw ingredient used to make cocaine, resulting in a humanitarian emergency for communities that are now dependent on the illicit coca economy. The collapse is attributed to a recent surge in production of synthetic drugs and a shift in the illicit drug market to other countries. Many farmers abandoned food crops in favour of growing coca, and the lack of agricultural and economic diversity means the community is even more hard hit by the drop in prices, leading to hunger in coca-growing territories.
The article calls for the reinstatement of government-led coca-substitution programmes to pay farmers in coca-growing regions to cultivate alternative crops, which were an integral part of Colombia’s 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The shift in Colombia’s drug policy towards more aggressive measures under President Ivan Duque has been criticized by many, including advocates for sustainable farming practices and coca farmers themselves.
The government’s focus on eradication and interdiction has led to a reduction in funding for coca-substitution programs and other social solutions to coca production, exacerbating the economic and humanitarian crisis faced by many coca-growing communities. The 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) had included provisions for coca substitution programs and other measures to address the root causes of drug production, but these efforts have been largely abandoned under the current administration.
