Colombia's government said on Monday it will resume the controversial practice of aerial spraying of coca plantations following a spike in gang-related violence.

Colombia's is the world's biggest producer of cocaine, the raw material of which is coca leaves.

It stopped aerial spraying in 2015 over health concerns but has long come under pressure from the United States -- the largest importer of Colombian cocaine -- to take measures to curb coca production.

"Restarting aerial spraying is absolutely indispensable," Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said at a press conference alongside the armed forces high command.

Former president Juan Manuel Santos ended the practice of aerial spraying using the herbicide glyphosate in 2015 after the World Health Organization said it was "probably carcinogenic."

But two years ago, at the end of his term in office, Santos announced Colombia would resume the practice after three years of manual destruction of illegal coca plantations.

Authorities, though, have set a condition that the spraying can only recommence once an official plan has been designed to minimize the adverse effects of the chemical substances.

Local people oppose aerial spraying as it affects their ability to legally grow coca leaf, which is used throughout the Andes as an infusion or to chew.

Environmentalists and farmers also oppose the practice due to its impact on traditional crops and water sources. Farmers also claim the spraying has killed their livestock and made them ill.

The government claims its the only effective method against illegal drug plantations.

Holmes Trujillo said authorities expect to meet the requirements within a few weeks.

The government of President Ivan Duque -- who was elected in 2018 on a promise to be tough on crime -- has been under pressure following a surge in violence around the country, which it blames on drug-traffickers.

On Friday and Saturday alone, 17 people were killed in three massacres. Authorities say 36 people have been killed in related gang violence since August 11.

As well as drug-traffickers, various armed groups competing for power, territory and influence are financed by illegal mining.

Colombia has 154,000 hectares of crop plantations used to produce cocaine, the United Nations said in 2019.

Illegal coca plantations have been reduced since Duque came to power from a high of 171,000 hectares in 2017, but cocaine production has remained stable.

Related Links
Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Chile slaps record fine on Norwegian salmon producer
Santiago (AFP) Aug 22, 2020
Chile's environmental protection service said Friday it had slapped a record $6.6 million fine on a Norwegian salmon producer for the 2018 escape of 690,000 antibiotic-fed fish. The fine, handed to salmon farming company Mowi, formerly known as Marina Harvest, was the largest ever for an environmental offense in the South American country. The charge of 5.3 billion pesos ($6.6 million) was in response to the "irreparable environmental damage produced by the mass escape of salmon" from the Punta ... read more