Coca cultivation in Colombia

There is an excellent analysis at Plan Colombia and Beyond about the UN’s new numbers on Colombian coca, which show (as do U.S. government numbers) that coca cultivation is increasing. It underlines the failure of a policy based on eradication. After years of such an effort, coca planters have simply become smarter, moving around and returning once the government (i.e. troops) has left.

The main argument is that without a significant rural development program, there is no way to stop people from growing coca. It should also be mentioned, though, that as long as Americans take large amounts of cocaine, supply will do its best to satisfy demand.