An investigation from Reuters revealed that coffee producers in Peru are abandoning their farms to work on plantations that grow coca, which is the main ingredient for cocaine.
The cause of this is the decrease in coffee prices and delays in the certification of organic beans.
“The Junta Nacional del Cafe (JNC), said farmers starting migrating to drug-trafficking regions in December to work on coca plantations, where they can earn higher pay of between 70 and 120 soles ($21 and $36 US dollars) per day”, Reuters said.
It is a worrying situation that could mean a setback in the fight against drug trafficking.
“Peru and the United States have spent years investing in programs aimed at helping coca farmers switch to alternative crops, mainly coffee and cacao. But potential cocaine production in Peru rose 20 percent to a 25-year high of 491 tonnes in 2017, according to a White House report in November”, the aforementioned media informed.
In addition, it was known that coffee production in Peru is lagging behind Colombia and Brazil. However, the country has found an opportunity in the organic production niche.
