Colombia's Coca Planting Surges to Over 250,000 Hectares

Coca cultivation in Colombia reached record levels exceeding 250,000 hectares. Despite government efforts to promote legal crop substitution through the National Comprehensive Programme for the Substitution of Illicit Crops (PNIS), farmers are returning to coca due to a lack of support and infrastructure. Between 2014 and 2019, coca cultivation was shown to boost local economies, with municipal GDP increasing by as much as 10% in some regions. The situation reveals the ongoing challenges faced by those attempting to transition away from coca-based agriculture, impacting both local communities and broader economic conditions.