An important project to replace illicit plantations that has so far benefited 425 families was carried out in the Güerima municipality by the Minister of Defense, Diego Molano, accompanied by the commander of the Colombian Air Force, General Ramsés Encuentro, the deputy minister, Jairo García and the governor Álvaro Arley León.
The program led by the Colombian Air Force and the government of Vichada has led to the production and marketing of 72 tonnes of Cacao whose purchase is made by Casa Luker, the company decided to acquire the product for 20 years in such a way as to ensure small farmers income in the medium and long term.
"The Proagro Association, by peasants from Vichada, made a change to the legality, today we are knowing their Cacao project, it is a project where they have managed to work with Cacao, with cane," said Minister Molano, while visiting one of the producing farms (whose maximum extension must be one hectare) in Vichada.
Thanks to this illicit plantation substitution project, 527 hectares of Cacao have already been planted on lands where coca was previously harvested.
The Colombian Air Force provides Cacao farmers with the transportation of the product to Bogotá and facilitates the transfer to the field of technical personnel who provide training on licit plantations.
"This has been the path from coca to Cacao and I think it is very good for everyone, personally I am very happy because with this can one may go far," said Fernando Zapata, one of the small producers.
Given the good results of this illicit plantation substitution project, it is currently planned to expand it to other products such as sugar cane and rice in order to facilitate their consumption among Vichada farmers.
Source: Defence Sector Communications Office – Ministry of National Defence
