Colombia’s Farmers and the Coca Dilemma of Nothing to Replace the Crop
As Colombia’s National Illicit Crop Substitution Program stalls, struggling farmers are increasingly tempted to return to coca cultivation. With global demand for cocaine surging, the question remains: what can replace coca for Colombia’s rural communities?
The struggle to reduce coca cultivation and transition farmers to alternative crops has been a long and complicated battle in Colombia. The National Illicit Crop Substitution Program (PNIS), launched as part of the 2016 peace treaty between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was meant to provide a sustainable pathway out of coca farming for tens of thousands of rural farmers. However, as The Guardian recently reported, this ambitious program has faced significant challenges, leaving many farmers disillusioned and tempted to return to the lucrative yet illegal crop.
This feature delves into the ongoing struggles of Colombian farmers like José Gregorio Rojas, who transitioned away from coca cultivation only to grapple with inadequate government support and the harsh economic realities of alternative farming. It also explores the historical context of coca cultivation in Colombia, the persistent economic temptations, and the broader implications of these challenges on a global scale.
A Stalled Promise
The National Illicit Crop Substitution Program was one of the critical components of Colombia’s 2016 peace treaty. It aimed to reduce the country’s entrenched coca cultivation. The program offered farmers financial incentives to replace their coca crops with alternative agricultural products and promises of technical assistance and infrastructure improvements to support these new ventures.
However, as The Guardian’s recent reports highlight, the reality for many farmers has been far from the program’s promises. José Gregorio Rojas, a former coca farmer who joined the program hoping for a better future, struggled to make ends meet as the promised government support did not materialize. “If the government had complied [with the agreement], I would be well organized by now,” Rojas lamented, echoing the frustrations of many others who feel abandoned by the state.
The PNIS program has been plagued by delays and underfunding, particularly during the administration of rightwing president Iván Duque, who significantly reduced the program’s budget. This lack of support has left many farmers in a precarious position, with little choice but to consider returning to coca cultivation. The appeal of coca is simple: it is a crop that guarantees buyers and generates higher income than most legal alternatives.
Coca Cultivation and Armed Conflict in Colombia
Coca cultivation has deep roots in Colombia’s rural regions, particularly in areas like Caquetá and Putumayo, where decades of armed conflict have left communities isolated and impoverished. The plant, which is processed into cocaine, became a lifeline for many farmers during the height of Colombia’s civil war, providing a stable income in regions where government presence was minimal and alternative economic opportunities were scarce.
During the conflict, armed groups, including the FARC, controlled large swaths of Colombia’s rural areas, where they taxed and regulated the coca trade. For many farmers, coca was not just a crop but a means of survival in a violent and uncertain environment. The 2016 peace treaty sought to change this dynamic by offering farmers a way out of the coca economy. Still, the historical entrenchment of coca cultivation has made this transition exceedingly tricky.
The Guardian’s interviews with researchers like Estefanía Ciro emphasize that the persistence of coca cultivation is closely tied to the broader issues of rural poverty and underdevelopment. “Coca growers are people who are not guaranteed basic rights, such as health, housing, or education,” Ciro explains. This lack of essential services, combined with ongoing violence and the powerful presence of armed groups, continues to make coca an attractive, if dangerous, option for many.
Economic Realities for Rural Farmers
Despite the risks associated with coca cultivation, including potential violence and legal repercussions, the economic reality for many Colombian farmers makes it difficult to resist. As global demand for cocaine continues to rise, so too does the price of coca, offering a tempting alternative for those struggling to survive on marginal incomes from legal crops.
Farmers like Rojas and Fernando Liscano, who have tried to transition to alternative farming, often find that the financial returns do not compare to those from coca. “I renounced an income that generated 3m-4m Colombian pesos [£580-£775] every two months,” Liscano says, highlighting the economic challenges of replacing coca with other crops like milk or fruits.
The Guardian reports that many farmers have met significant obstacles in the crop substitution program, including delayed payments, insufficient technical assistance, and prohibitive costs for necessary farming equipment. The lack of infrastructure, such as roads to transport goods to market, further worsens these challenges, leaving farmers isolated and without viable selling options.
As a result, many former coca growers face a difficult choice: continue struggling with legal crops that barely sustain their families or return to coca cultivation, where buyers are guaranteed, and the income is significantly higher. This temptation is powerful in regions like Caquetá, where alternative economic opportunities are very rare.
Government Challenges and Global Impacts
The ongoing struggles of Colombia’s crop substitution program raise serious questions about the future of coca cultivation in the country. Despite efforts to reduce coca production, the amount of land dedicated to coca cultivation has increased since the peace treaty’s signing, from 146,000 hectares in 2016 to 230,000 hectares in 2022, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Colombian government’s current administration, led by President Gustavo Petro, faces significant challenges in addressing this issue. While the administration has pledged to revitalize the crop substitution program and provide better support to farmers, the timeline for achieving these goals is short, with just a year and a half remaining in Petro’s term.
Gloria Miranda, the director of the PNIS program, has acknowledged the difficulties in implementing it but is still optimistic about its potential. The government plans to industrialize the countryside, creating new jobs and income opportunities while cutting out private operators accused of corruption. However, as The Guardian reports, many farmers are still skeptical about the government’s ability to deliver on these promises, given the program’s troubled history.
Looking beyond Colombia, the persistence of coca cultivation has broader implications for the global drug trade. As cocaine consumption rises worldwide, so too does the demand for coca, fueling ongoing violence and instability in coca-growing regions. Ciro and other experts argue that an innovative approach to drug policy is needed, one that considers the legalization and regulation of coca and cocaine production as a way to reduce the harms associated with the illegal drug trade.
Yet, for farmers like Rojas, these broader policy debates offer little comfort amid immediate economic pressures. “If the coca prices recover and people see they can’t get by, believe me, they will go back to the business,” Rojas warns, underscoring the central challenge of finding sustainable alternatives to coca cultivation. Without meaningful investment in rural development, infrastructure, and viable economic options, the temptation of coca will remain strong for Colombia’s struggling farmers.
The struggle to replace coca cultivation in Colombia is symbolic of the country’s broader challenges in its post-conflict era. While well-intentioned, the National Illicit Crop Substitution Program has struggled to deliver on its promises, leaving many farmers disillusioned and tempted to return to coca. As The Guardian’s reporting highlights, the economic realities of rural Colombia make coca an enduringly attractive crop despite the risks.
To break this cycle, the Colombian government must address the root causes of coca cultivation—poverty, underdevelopment, and lack of infrastructure—and provide natural, sustainable alternatives for rural farmers. Without these changes, the dream of a coca-free Colombia will remain elusive, and the global drug trade will continue to fuel violence and instability in the region.
Also read: Colombia’s Economic Battle to Guard Oil Pipelines Amid Armed Conflict
As Colombia moves forward, the lessons of the past must guide its efforts to create a more just and prosperous future for all its citizens, particularly those in the rural communities that have withstood the most of the country’s long conflict. Only by addressing the underlying issues can Colombia hope to break the cycle of coca cultivation and build a lasting peace.
