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Some coffee areas were even converted to coca at times Colombian coffee
when the international market and Colombian cost structures
made coffee growing unprofitable, especially starting in 1989 growers only cultivate
after the U.S.-led collapse of the International Coffee Agree-
ment, some of the darkest years for coffee as well as coca-fu- coffee of the Arabica
eled violence.The case is surely different among farmers.
Some plant out of economic necessity, some are forced or species, using
coerced into it by armed actors, and others, naturally, are
taking advantage of an opportunity to make money. Howev- varieties that adapt
er we must understand that this is not a drug problem, rather
a rural development problem, in most cases a symptom of to their specific
armed conflict and a lack of economically viable options in
isolated rural communities. production, like Típica,
Conversion Back from Coca Borbón, Caturra,

Many coca farmers would prefer to grow something Castillo or Tabi.
else, having seen the effects of the violence that it fuels.
For most, there is still no viable alternative, and when there
is, growers are often intimidated or worse by cocaine sup-
ply chain actors to continue growing coca.
Several efforts have been made to curb coca farming
in Colombia including aerial spraying of glyphosate (Mon-
santo RoundUp), killing off coca which takes less than a
year to replace, as well as food crops, conversion crops like
cacao that take years to become productive, and causing
Colombia is the only country in South America that has
serious public health issues… all promoting replanting of
coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
more coca than before being sprayed with glyphosate.
Those processing and exporting cocaine have been target-
ed for decades by government forces, but as long as there
is the ability to produce raw material and demand for the
finished product, someone always emerges to manage the
lucrative supply chain. Sadly, despite the peace accord with
the FARC and the dismantling of numerous trafficking
organizations, there is more coca planted today in Colom-
bia than ever before in history. Truly a demand-driven
market, every time coca production decreases, market
prices increase, incentivizing replanting.
Coffee remains one of the better options for small-
holder farmers today, and much of the land currently
planted with coca is also ideal for arabica coffee. However
in lower-lying coca-growing areas where arabica coffee
cannot flourish, the situation is a little more tricky. Some
efforts have been made to plant cacao, but the internation-
al price is too low for it to be profitable. Some other niche
crops have been tried, such as palm hearts, vanilla, bell
peppers, and peppercorns. These crops have suffered from
lack of cultivation and processing knowledge and lack of
market access. There is increasing interest today in plant-
ing robusta coffee in these areas, a very controversial
prospect in a country known for mild arabicas, but a com-
pelling potential alternative to coca for many small farmers.

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