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(LIP-jl) -- Juan Jose Salazar, Peru's Agricultural Minister, publicly admitted that Peru's forced coca plant eradication efforts have failed miserably.

Standing before the Peruvian Congress, Salazar openly admitted that current coca plant eradication strategies have failed.

With that statement, Peru's top agricultural authority contradicted recent statements by Peruvian Prime Minister Jorge Del Castillo, and other important Peruvian politicians who insisted the operations have been effective.

While continuing his testimony to Peru's parliamentary body, Salazar called on key political figures, both from the government and the coca farmer's union, to leave hypocrisy at the door and confront the problem head on without resorting to violence.

At the same time however, he defended the recent agreement reached with coca farmers from the jungle department of San Martin, stating that eradication efforts of known illicit coca plant cultivations in the area have not been suspended.

As part of the agreed upon details of the treaty, forced eradication of all coca plant cultivations has ceased in the area, except for those that are known to be used exclusively for drug production.