Why do farmers grow illicit crops (coca fields) opposed to licit crops (agriculture)?
Farmers that are involved in the cultivation of illicit crops live in the most rural areas of Latin America. In most cases, these rural communities are the poorest in the country and lack even the most basic infrastructure. When these rural farmers choose to grow coca instead of other licit crops, it is usually due to a lack of alternatives. They can make more money growing illicit crops than with licit crops. Coca cultivation is simple, it is a sure source for regular income, it is sold inside the farm, it does not have a limitation of market demand and it had a growing demand for illicit ends. However, this makes them dependent on those involved with prohibited drug production. This places these rural farmers in an illegal industry in which they are under the threat of forced eradication of their illicit crop by the government.
