What You Need to Know
• Elena Hernández moved to Guaviare during the 1990s coca boom, attracted by higher wages.
• The National Comprehensive Programme for the Substitution of Illicit Crops (PNIS) began in 2017, promising financial support to farmers.
• Political shifts under President Iván Duque in 2018 weakened the PNIS, leading to delays in payments and support.
Elena Hernández, a farmer, relocated to the coca-producing region of Guaviare in the 1990s due to better pay. In 2017, she joined approximately 100,000 families in the National Comprehensive Programme for the Substitution of Illicit Crops (PNIS), which promised each household 36 million Colombian pesos (approximately $11,000) over two years in exchange for abandoning coca cultivation. While the program initially showed promise, with coca fields being replaced by other crops, Hernández and others reported significant issues, including delayed payments and lack of technical support. The program’s effectiveness diminished as political priorities shifted under President Iván Duque, who focused on eradication and security, leaving the PNIS struggling to meet its goals by the time President Gustavo Petro took office in 2022.
Why It Matters
The National Comprehensive Programme for the Substitution of Illicit Crops (PNIS) was established as part of the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). This initiative aimed to reduce coca cultivation by providing financial and technical support to farmers. However, the program faced challenges due to political changes and inadequate government commitment, leading to a lack of resources for rural communities. Understanding the evolution of PNIS is crucial for grasping Colombia’s ongoing efforts to combat drug-related violence and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
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