Colombian President Gustavo Petro presented a plan for the recovery of Catatumbo, a border region with Venezuela affected by violence and coca cultivation. The plan includes the eradication of 25,000 hectares of coca, which represents almost half of the illicit crops in the area.
In a ministerial council broadcasted on television and social media, the president stated that the violence in Catatumbo, besides being border-related, is linked to the extensive coca plantations in the region. Petro emphasized the urgency to act given the validity of the internal commotion decrees issued to address the violence caused by armed groups.
The president stressed that the eradication of coca crops will be carried out voluntarily, without resorting to traditional fumigation methods banned by the Constitution. A program for payments for crop eradication will be implemented, incentivizing farmers to participate in the elimination of coca plants. Land titling will also be offered to farmers involved in the program.
Once the coca crops are eradicated, it is expected that the Catatumbo region can focus on forestry and agri-food production. An investment of 2.7 trillion pesos is planned for the initiative. Additionally, the president mentioned that a military offensive will be carried out in the area, without providing details due to the confidentiality of the matter.
In Catatumbo, besides the disputes between the ELN, FARC dissidents, and EPL, there is a stronghold of drug trafficking. Petro pointed out the importance of the voluntary decision of coca-growing farmers to eradicate the crops as a fundamental step towards peace in Colombia.
