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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.

USAID - COLOMBIA:

Southern Colombia: Putumayo, Narino, Caqueta, Cauca

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FACT SHEET

WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-4320

2001-016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2001

Contact: USAID Press Office

Alternative Development

Alternative development is a cost-effective means to permanently eliminate the production of coca and opium poppy. USAID's goal is to eliminate 3,000 hectares of opium poppy and 30,000 hectares of coca, beginning in the southern departments. Alternative development must provide two economic stimuli to a small farmer. First, it must cushion the short-term loss of income due to eradication of coca. Second, alternative development must provide a reliable source of licit income. Both interdiction and involuntary eradication disrupt markets, raising costs for traffickers who then lower the price offered to farmers. Because of this disruption, licit income does not have to replace a farmer's coca income dollar for dollar.

Small farmers maintain a diversified crop mix, both in food crops for home consumption and in cash crops. To them, coca and poppy are cash crops that are especially profitable and without serious problems of transportation or spoilage. Small farmers who produce coca usually have 3 hectares or less of the illicit crop, with 3-10 hectares of pasture, food, or licit crops. Those that grow poppies usually have one hectare or less of this illicit crop with 2-3 more hectares of food or other licit crops. Farmers usually require several years of dependable governance and access to licit markets before they permanently abandon coca or poppy as an option. Farmers perceive that drug crop production is accompanied by undesirable social effects such as increased drug and alcohol use, loss of work ethic, increased prostitution, and violence. This view is most strongly held among indigenous communities, where cultural survival is an important theme.

To begin alternative development, the National Plan for Alternative Development (PLANTE) meets with groups of small farmers and obtains their intention to participate in voluntary eradication of coca or poppy. The content of a formal social pact for the eradication is negotiated, and the farmers accept the marking of their fields with GPS equipment to avoid becoming a spray target. After the agreement is signed, PLANTE provides farmers with food crop seeds and plants in a public event. At this point, farmers are obliged to begin to uproot their coca. As eradication progresses, PLANTE assists the farmers with USAID-financed licit cash crops, including food crops for local sale and crops for shipment to other Colombian markets. Complete elimination of coca is required not later than 12 months after the initial delivery of food crop seeds and plants.

  • In Putumayo, PLANTE has obtained agreements with 2,650 small producers that will result in the voluntary elimination of 5,150 hectares of coca near Puerto Asis and Orito. Further agreements are expected by the end of April 2001 for additional voluntary eradication, for a total of 10,200 hectares to be permanently eliminated. USAID technical assistance will assist these farmers though the provision of licit cash crop alternatives.
  • Also in Putumayo, PLANTE plans to arrange approximately twenty agreements with small farmers for the voluntary elimination of coca, using Government of Colombia resources.
  • Assistance to the production of heart of palm has begun, with an estimated USAID investment of $180,000. Assistance provided to indigenous communities for food crops, medicinal plants, and other crops totals $505,000.
  • USAID has agreed to fund the United Nations Drug Control Program for a $5 million dual-purpose (meat and milk) cattle project in southwestern Caqueta province and southern Nariņo province with the consequent voluntary eradication of 1,450 hectares of coca and poppy.
  • In northern Cauca, 9 small farmer associations have agreed to eliminate 45 hectares of opium poppy and are receiving assistance to improve 95 hectares of licit crops, including production of organic coffee for export.

Local Governance

USAID's municipal strengthening provides a model for development of consensus between national and local governments and citizens. In Putumayo, USAID assisted the governor, his staff, and the 13 mayors to discuss transparent financial management, municipal development plans, and the GOC's development strategy and plans for Putumayo. USAID-funded small infrastructure projects in the municipalities are expected to begin in April. In February, the GOC and USAID met with the governor of Caqueta, his staff, and 15 of the 16 mayors (the mayor of Caguan did not attend). The meeting explored financial management, the municipal development plans to be submitted by late March, and ways to have public participation in the approval of the development plans. The GOC has made available $12.5 million to finance improvement of the San Miguel-Mocoa and Mocoa-San Francisco roads and the Puerto Leguizamo landing strip, extend rural electricity, and assist indigenous communities.

Access to Justice

To bring justice into the reach of the rural and urban poor, USAID supports one-stop legal offices called Casas de Justicia (Justice Houses). The Casas de Justicia offer formal and informal conflict resolution mechanisms. Each of the 15 Casas handles over 150 cases daily, avoiding lengthy formal judicial resolution. Casas de justicia are operating in Mocoa, Pasto, and Popayan. Another is planned for Leticia.

Displaced Persons

USAID's work with displaced people in southern Colombia focuses on income generation, health, community infrastructure, and education in Narino, Putumayo, and Caqueta. These projects coordinate with departmental and municipal governments, the Social Solidarity Network, the Colombian Family Welfare Institute, the Ombusdsman's Office, and UNHCR. More than twenty projects are ongoing, many of which are dedicated to women (who account for 44% heads of households among IDP families). USAID is also strengthening local institutional capacity to provide social services and develop contingency plans to deal with displaced persons.