UNODC visits the municipality of La Asunta to discuss with the community about the production of coffee of excellence for export to Europe.

 La Paz, May 21st, 2021 (United Nations). - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) visited the municipality of La Asunta, in Los Yungas de La Paz, to talk with the community about the reactivation of the local agricultural economy through the production of coffee of excellence and the search for supportive international markets, mainly in Europe.

 

 

The mission led by the UNODC Representative, Thierry Rostan, had a rough start when part of the road collapsed. In spite of this, and by alternate routes, the commitment to be present in the place with the community was fulfilled, to reinforce the bonds of friendship and trust forged thanks to years of joint work for the development of the area.

  

Once on site, a meeting was held with community representatives to discuss the production of high-quality coffee and its subsequent export to European markets. On this occasion, the H. Councilwoman Estela Ramos Apaza, appointed the representatives of the electoral committee of the Chamaca and Asunta Federations for the election of a second level body that will associate all the coffee producers of the municipality of La Asunta.

 

UNODC and the Vice-Ministry of Coca and Integral Development have been working on an integral development project to guarantee food security in the region by substituting surplus coca crops and diversifying the local economy, reaching more families in the area. Therefore, the interest of the communities is growing, due to the positive experience with the first coffee export to France after 15 years, thanks to the technical support of UNODC, which benefited more than 600 families. 

 

This experience was the result of work initiated in 2018 with the support of France (MILDECA) that reactivates coffee exports. A total of 207 bags weighing 12,420 kilograms of high-quality coffee were exported to the French, Belgian and Swiss markets, and generated a profit for the community of US$41,000 (285,369 Bolivian Pesos). 

 

The objective is to export 20 containers of coffee annually to Europe in the next 5 years. This project aims to improve the quality of life of coffee producers with a fair and sustainable income, as well as mitigate the progress of surplus coca in a climate of social peace.