Coca Crop Substitution in Colombia

VICHADA, COLOMBIA - DECEMBER 05 : A Colombian Soldier is seen heavily armed in Vichada, Colombia on December 05, 2017. Only presence of the Colombian state in the area was armed forces. Now, Colombian Air force along with Colombian National Army help farmers to take their products out of the territory for the benefit of the community. Locals of Guerima follow the conditions carefully, delivered by government and United Nations, as they start a new page. 189 families will benefit from voluntary substitution of illicit crops. Governments aim for 2018 is 40 thousand hectares of the country covered with these agreements. According to Illicit Crop Monitoring System (IMCI) report in 2008, almost 9,000 hectares of coca were found in Vachada, and today approximately 700 hectares belong to families that signed voluntary substitution agreements, as making Vichada a coca-free zone works began. (Photo by Juancho Torres/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)