Some 2 million Peruvians were integrated into legal economy after current government implemented its coca substitution program, National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (Devida) Chairman Alberto Otarola revealed.
This has been made possible thanks to the partnership and alternative development investment which, in the case of Devida, amounted to S/1 billion (US$301 million), over the past five years, four times higher than in the case of the two previous governments together.
He said the sustainable and comprehensive alternative development, recognized by the United Nations, has generated more than US$250 million in exports of coffee and cocoa planted in former growing areas.
This progress occurs in parallel with the coca leaf eradication process. By the end of Humala’s term in office, over 109,000 hectares will have been taken away from drug trafficking and committed to development.
“We have done our homework. Peru’s coca producing area has been reduced by 40%,” Otarola told TV Peru.
On June 1, the United Nations will release a new report on Peru’s coca crop reduction for 2015, considering the producing area in the 2014 report covered 42,900 hectares.
(END) VVS/CCR/RMB/MVB
Published: 5/4/2016