Colombia

The Government of Colombia, the world's largest coca producer continues its efforts against illicit drug cultivation. Experience shows that eradication of illicit crops alone is insufficient to bring about a lasting solution to illicit drug cultivation. UNODC thus supports the Government's efforts to assist farmers, who gave up coca cultivation, through alternative development to ensure that they earn adequate incomes legally. Alternative Development Products or "Products of Peace"   The Colombian Government and UNODC support farmers' associations engaged in alternative development products including beans, cacao, palm hearts, coffee, honey, coconuts, dairy products and gourmet sauces. Many of these enterprises produce organic products in environment-friendly systems making them profitable and competitive in domestic and international markets including supermarket chains and airline industry. Café la Tienda de la Paz at the UNODC office in Bogota also promotes alternative development products by selling coffee from five regions of the country. Forest Management Currently, UNODC is implementing phase II of the Monte Bravo initiative in coordination with the Social Action Plan of the Presidency of Colombia. Phase I (2004-2006) improved the lives of 433 families through forest management, agro-forestry and food security activities. Three forest management plans secured over 22,000 hectares free of coca plantations and the rehabilitation of more than 390 hectares of cacao crops. The participatory approach promoted by the project resulted in the empowerment of the involved communities. The initiative helped to create and strengthen community councils and women's associations. Forest-Warden Families Programme UNODC monitors the achievements of the Forest Warden Families Programme with respect to voluntary eradication, forest recovery and socio-economic development. The Programme, created by the President of Colombia, has as its main objective the incorporation of farmer families into a process of voluntary eradication of illicit crops and the recovering of forest in ecologically and socially vulnerable areas. UNODC supports the publication of El Bosque periodical, which explains the challenges of becoming a Forest Warden. In 2006, UNODC's data showed that 80 per cent of the area under the programme was free of illicit crops. Support from the departmental government  In 2007, UNODC launched a new initiative in the Antioquia Department in line with the national and departmental strategies on alternative development. The project is the first of its kind to receive a substantial financial contribution from a departmental government. The main objective is to strengthen the productive capacities of at least 200 families and community enterprises in the municipalities of Anorí and Briceño through support to agro-forestry including coffee and cocoa, as substitutes to illicit coca crop cultivation.