Colombian coca farmers struggle to leave illicit crop due to insufficient government support for alternative livelihoods
Executive summary: Colombian coca farmers told the BBC they want to stop growing coca but cannot because they receive little or no support to switch to legal crops. The situation underscores the challenges of crop substitution programs and the ongoing difficulty of reducing cocaine supply at its source.
Who is involved: Colombian coca farmers, Colombian government agencies responsible for rural development and drug policy, and possibly international donors.
Likely next: Continued reliance on coca cultivation unless effective subsidy or technical assistance programs are expanded and implemented.
The BBC reports that farmers cultivating coca, the raw material for cocaine, say they lack adequate assistance to transition to legal crops such as coffee or cacao. This highlights a persistent gap in Colombia’s rural development policies aimed at reducing illicit drug production. Without viable alternatives, many remain dependent on the coca economy despite personal desire to quit.
Timeline
- — This farmer wanted to quit the cocaine industry - he couldn't (BBC Business)
Analysis — what this means
Sectors affected
- coca cultivation in Colombia
Sources
Related cases
- HMRC to send £70 pension‑tax‑relief refund letters to about one million mostly‑female savers, correcting a historic tax‑equity gap
- Climate‑driven turbulence will increase airline disruption and costs
- BBC probes whether Londoners would lie about their birthday to obtain a free treat, highlighting consumer ethics and promotional cost risks for businesses
- Birthday freebies reveal how brands use celebratory perks to drive engagement and data collection
- Gen Z job seekers lose savings to fake recruitment apps in rising interview scam
- Office gift collections spark discomfort as workers question appropriate contribution levels