The Coca Plantations
In the mountains and jungles of southwestern Colombia, farm workers, migrants, and even women carrying babies toil doggedly in coca fields despite the dangers posed by guerrillas and drug traffickers. These plantations are known as “San Coca” due to the locals’ devotion to growing the coca plant, which provides the active ingredient in cocaine. Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of this addictive stimulant, even though successive governments have worked to combat the trade.
The “coca economy” emerged as a response to institutional abandonment. With no state presence or support, peasants turned to planting coca after suffering losses with other crops. The cultivation and processing of coca leaves, which are then used to make cocaine, form a network of activities. Rebels serve as middlemen between farmers and traffickers, putting food on the tables of locals. However, the government does not always distinguish between coca growers and drug traffickers.
It’s a complex situation with humanitarian implications, and the struggle continues despite efforts to curb the trade. Entire families, old women, single mothers, and even recently Venezuelan migrants can be found picking coca leaves in these plantations.
*Cited from Microsoft AI