Bolivia: Coca, Poverty and Hope

The election of Evo Morales in Bolivia has raised the hopes of many (mainly) small coca farmers in Latin America’s poorest country. As this report from IPS relates, the farmers and the government wish to restore soil fertility after years of environmentally damaging coca production, and to diversify agricultural production, but this will be a lengthy process.

Nevertheless, with an energetic government and a relatively hands off approach from the U.S. in Latin America, things are changing – for now.

Just about any crop can be grown in the heart of Bolivia’s fertile Yungas region, say local farmers. But only coca has prospered. And although it is the only crop that brings anything close to a living income, local campesinos are still steeped in poverty.

Coca has been grown since time immemorial in these forest-covered mountains. Centuries ago, Spanish chroniclers described the coca plantations in the Yungas region that were controlled by the Aymara kingdoms from the highlands.

“Coca and tourism,” responds Santiago Gutiérrez, 38, the municipal government secretary in Coroico, when asked about the main economic activities in this town, the capital of the province of Nor Yungas in the “departamento” (state) of La Paz.

Coroico, a town of 12,750 people, is located 90 km north of the city of La Paz. Some 3,000 families (basically the entire population) depend on coca for a living, says Gutiérrez, who has years of experience as a leader of the “cocaleros” (coca growers) and of the local chapter of the governing Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).

Posted by Szamko
Just tries to tell the truth.

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