Present
In the Páez region, in Cauca, the indigenous communities of Calderas, Togoima and Cohetando began an innovative process of transforming the coca leaf. Traditionally used for ancestral purposes, this plant is now used in industrial and agricultural uses, complying with all the regulations required by the State.
Three years ago, the only plant in Colombia dedicated to the transformation of coca leaves was built. This project seeks to change the perception of the leaf, from being “the leaf that kills” to becoming an economic opportunity for the region.
Victoriano Piñacue, project leader, highlights the cultural importance of the coca leaf: “The leaf is sacred to us because it is part of the creation of divine providence. For us, the plant is not the bush that kills, the sacred coca leaf is blessed because it is medicinal and it is food.”
The process begins with the elimination of the alkaloid in a specialized laboratory, obtaining extracts and essences that are used in the production of nutritional, medicinal and industrial products. Chemical engineer Suri Alexandra Mazabel explains: “Coca leaf extract is used to make energy drinks, soft drinks, juices and the essence for alcoholic beverages.”
After alkaloid extraction, the residue, called bagasse, is pulverized and mixed with other organic products to create a high-quality fertilizer. This fertilizer has ICA certification and meets the necessary technical conditions, benefiting farmers. Fidel Flórez, agronomist, points out: “Without additional cost, without transportation cost because it is already in the package and without application cost because when applying the chemical and mineral components, the organic material is being applied with all the benefits: they gain the improvement of the ground, they win transportation and they win freight.”
Although the initiative has the support of the National Government, the commercialization process has encountered obstacles. The Ministry of Agriculture has not fulfilled its commitment to purchase a first package of 400 tons of fertilizers, crucial to consolidate the transformation of coca leaf crops in the south of the country.
This project represents an opportunity for the indigenous communities of Cauca, transforming a controversial plant into a source of economic and sustainable development.
