Colombia: Cocoa drives economic change in Putumayo

16-08-24

Putumayo, a region marked by coca cultivation for decades, is seeing significant change thanks to a 27.871 million peso investment led by the Rural Development Agency (ADR). This project, which benefits 626 peasant and indigenous families in several municipalities, focuses on the production, processing and commercialisation of cocoa. This initiative not only replaces an illegal economy with a more sustainable and profitable one, but also promotes comprehensive socio-economic development, in line with the national government's Comprehensive Rural Reform policy.

Cacao has been presented as an economically viable alternative for the communities of middle and lower Putumayo. Unlike coca, whose production has fostered violence and underdevelopment in the region, cocoa offers a legal crop with high profitability and a large market both nationally and internationally. Furthermore, the ADR project is not limited to basic production, but also includes the transformation of cocoa into value-added products, such as table chocolate, which ensures fair prices and greater competitiveness in the market.

The project also contemplates the delivery of productive assets to the participating associations, including specialised machinery such as presses, shellers, laminators and loading vehicles. This, together with technical assistance and training, aims to ensure that families can not only grow cocoa, but also process and market cocoa products, generating a lasting and sustainable economic impact.

This effort is part of a broader strategy of the national government, which has allocated a total of 82.886 million pesos to similar initiatives in various regions of the country. The collaboration between the Land Renewal Agency, peasant and indigenous organisations, the Putumayo Governor's Office and the NGO Ayuda en Acción is key to the success of this socio-economic transformation. These entities work hand in hand to provide not only financial resources, but also the necessary accompaniment to ensure that communities can make the most of this opportunity and definitively abandon dependence on illicit crops.

In addition to the economic impact, this project has a strong social component. Replacing coca with cocoa not only improves the living conditions of the families involved, but also contributes to the pacification and development of a region historically affected by armed conflict and drug trafficking. By offering legal and sustainable alternatives, such projects are expected to reduce the influence of illegal armed groups and strengthen the presence of the state in these vulnerable areas.

In environmental terms, the transition from coca cultivation to cocoa is also significant. Coca production has been one of the main causes of deforestation in Putumayo, while cocoa cultivation, when done sustainably, can be compatible with the conservation of local biodiversity. This change not only benefits human communities, but also contributes to the preservation of the ecosystems of the Amazon, one of the richest regions in the world in terms of biodiversity.

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