Almost since the foundation of our country we can say that we have lived in conflict,
and although its forms have varied, we can see that the structural causes remain the
same. The inhabitants of the Colombian countryside have suffered many problems
such as poor infrastructure, lack or scarce access to quality education, basic
services such as drinking water, electricity and in the last decades, lack of digital
connectivity.
Violence has also been a constant feature of the conflict, and although until a few
decades ago it was understood as a form of political struggle based on clear
ideologies, the fact that this is no longer the case and that the country’s armed actors
respond exclusively to economic or power incentives does not mean that the
structural causes mentioned above have changed.
In this sense we could think that the solution indisputably requires that we develop
the Colombian countryside in an inclusive way, and that despite the fact that some
are for and others against initiatives such as the peace agreement signed in 2016, or
the total peace initiative of the current government, it is a fact that the rural
population needs to be the focus of any effort that seeks peace. Today young people
have only two options to guarantee their livelihoods, either migrate to the cities in
search of opportunities or enter, voluntarily or involuntarily into the illegal economies,
perpetuating the conflict.
For almost a decade, it has been acknowledged that there are certain crops that can
generate an important impact in providing new ways of life. Cocoa is one of them,
and although its development represents challenges, with joint efforts of various
sectors we can overcome them and find a light down the road.
Cocoa, today considered a superfood because of its nutritional content and the
positive effects it has on the health and mood of those who consume it, is a fruit
native to the Amazon basin that, with the necessary processes and care, can be
produced in several areas of our country in a sustainable way, and very importantly,
at very high quality. The “fine and aromatic” cocoa is a product of high value, sought
after throughout the world.
Today, for a Colombian cocoa farmer, a production with these characteristics can
mean up to 50% more in the sales price and it is expected that in the near future this
value will even increase considering that consumers and regulators are increasingly
demanding products that meet certain social and environmental conditions in the
places of origin. For example, many consumers are concerned that there is no child
labor involved in production or that products are organically certified. These
requirements will make those products that meet them more valuable.
Returning to the Colombian case, it would therefore seem feasible to become
specialized producers. We have the geographical conditions -which are
indispensable- to achieve this if we overcome challenges such as lack of technical
training, providing access to tools, machinery and financing -while improving crop
quality-, and especially finding marketing channels. There are already projects that
demonstrate that this is possible, and they can be replicated.
If we succeed in getting cocoa farmers to produce and market fine and aromatic
cocoa from Colombia to the whole world, we will make them part of a sustainable
business over time, which will allow them to get out of illicit activities and, in a
dignified way, guarantee a better standard of living for them.
This sector has much to contribute to ending Colombia’s armed conflict. Contributing
to Colombian cocoa growers means contributing to peace.
