Coca cultivation has declined by more than 50% in Colombia’s north-western Antioquia department since 2008, according to government statistics, newspaper El Tiempo reports.
The government program uses aerial spraying and manual substitution to eradicate coca crops. Gregorio Mejia, coordinator of the Regional Coordination Centre for Bajo Cauca, said that the results of the strategy are positive, despite having attained only half of the goal so far.
The official commented that eradication is made difficult by the presence of anti-personnel landmines.
Mejia adds that despite their efforts “cultivation has been more extensive, with more municipalities affected and more at risk. The areas of cultivation have been smaller which makes it more difficult to detect the coca.” Consequently, there needs to be an increase in manual eradication.