Peru saw a 13.9% reduction in its coca cultivation area in 2014 going from 49,800 to 42,900 hectares, the largest reduction since 1998, according to a monitoring report issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Government.
The said document, released by UNODC and the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (Devida), shows that Peru has seen a 30% cumulative reduction of the total area of coca plantations for third consecutive year.
This is due to the fact that the land used for coca leaf crops was reduced in size from 62,500 to 60,400 hectares between 2011 and 2012, and to 49,800 hectares in 2012-2013, UNODC Representative in Peru Flavio Mirella informed.
Such results represent an improvement when compared with the numbers recorded in the 2005-2011 period, time through which the coca growing area reached an expansion peak of 62,500 hectares; however, since 2012, sustained reduction has been achieved through 2014.
Mirella said that, in visual and comparative terms, the country’s coca leaf surface was equivalent to the size of 85,800 soccer fields last year, compared with the size of 100,000 the previous year.
“It is an important achievement. Almost 14% fewer hectares have been used [for coca crop cultivation] in comparison with last year (2013). This is the largest reduction ever seen in Peru since 1998 (38,700 hectares)," he said.
The report was prepared using high-resolution satellite images of the national territory, overflying cultivation areas at a height of 1,500 meters, and verifying and contrasting the collected information in situ.
Such results are a consequence of eradication actions planned by the State, through the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (Devida), and executed by the Special Project for Control and Reduction of Illegal Crops in Alto Huallaga (Corah).
The report states that pre-eradication strategies –including information and awareness-raising campaigns aimed at locals– and social support actions by the Government contributed to the successful intervention.
Another important aspect mentioned in the document has to do with the fact that the Government has expanded the coverage of action by acting in remarkable areas where coca leaf production and its derivatives evidences a strong linkage with drug trafficking.
This intervention, according to the report, took place in Pichis Palcazu–Pachitea, Aguaytia, Alto Huallaga (in the Northern sector, including Monzon), Orellana and Caballococha–Cushillococha (Bajo Amazonas–Trapecio Amazonico).
Reduction by Zones
According to the report, Aguaytia saw the largest reduction of land area on which coca bushes are grown, going from 1,796 to 332 hectares, recording a 81.5% drop; followed by Alto Huallaga, from 4,302 hectares in 2013 to 1,555 in 2014, that is, down 63.9%.
Meanwhile, the drop in Mazamari, Calleria, Masisea, Contamana, and Huallaga Central, was 58.9 percentage points, going from 950 to 390 hectares in the similar period.
Likewise, Pichis Palcazu–Pachitea cultivation area was reduced in size going from 863 to 402 hectares (53.4%), whereas in Bajo Amazonas, from 3,070 to 2,137 hectares (30.4%) in the same period.
As for the VRAEM area (Valley formed by the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers), one of the major coca growing areas, the decline was 1.7%, from 19,167 hectares in 2013 to 18,845 in 2014, while in La Convencion–Lares the area was reduced from 10,843 to 10,342 hectares (4.6%).
It should be noted that despite recorded reductions major coca growing areas are in the Vraem (18,845 hectares) and La Convención-Lares (10,342), which together account for 68% of the total.
According to previous years’ information, the coca growing area was reduced by 17.5% in 2012-2013, while the 2011-2012 report showed a 3.4% reduction.
Comprehensive Approach
To the UN representative, the comprehensive approach adopted by the Government is noteworthy, not only for its major intervention coverage, but for its increased annual eradication goals (35,000 hectares in 2015) and the alternative development programs.
“These strategies have allowed the country to reduce and minimize social conflicts that result in such processes of change and, have encouraged growers to get involved in alternative development,” Mirella said.
The trend is expected to remain in the following years, so alternative development has to continue complementing eradication and an effective control of chemical supplies must be maintained.
The national production of dried coca leaves in 2014 amounted to 100,840 metric tons, of which –according to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics– 9,000 MT are produced for traditional consumption.
The remaining volume is directed towards drug trafficking to be later transformed into cocaine paste and cocaine hydrochloride. The prices per kilo are about US$843 and US$1,178, respectively.
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Published: 7/15/2015