Coca is any of the four cultivated plants in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. Coca is known worldwide for its psychoactive alkaloid, cocaine.

Creating the right growing conditions for coca plants is crucial for their success. These plants thrive in tropical or subtropical climates with temperatures ranging from 60°F to 80°F (15°C to 27°C). They prefer high humidity levels and well-draining, loamy soil.

Feb 10, 2025 · Some recent evidence suggests that coca may have been domesticated as early as 6000 BCE, which would make its cultivation earlier than corn, first domesticated in the 5th millennium BCE. Researchers discovered traces of coca leaves in house floors in the Nanchoc Valley of Peru, a period that coincides with the rise of farming in the region.

This report describes the coca plant; its cultivation in Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia; the steps in cocaine processing; and its natural enemies and eradication efforts.

Sep 27, 2022 · InSight Crime provides four key takeaways on the impact of rising Peruvian coca production both nationally and across the globe. Peruvian coca cultivation has expanded again, rising from 61,777 hectares in 2020 to an historic 80,681 hectares in 2021.

Two of the lesser understood aspects of the illicit cocaine traffic are the cultivation of the coca plant and the conversion of the coca leaf into cocaine hydrochloride (HCl).

Jul 5, 2023 · Coca cultivation in Peru reached an all-time high in 2022, with the largest growth in crops occurring outside of traditional cultivation zones, according to a new report by the Peruvian government.

1 day ago · Coca cultivation was first detected in the country in 2018 in Esquipulas del Norte, Olancho. At the time, officials downplayed the threat, labeling it an isolated experiment. However, six years later, the crop took root in departments including Atlántida, Yoro, Santa Bárbara, and even on the remote western border with Guatemala. ...

Coca Cultivation. coca bushes Coca is traditionally cultivated in the lower altitudes of the eastern slopes of the Andes (the Yungas), or the highlands depending on the species grown. Coca grows best in a hot humid climate at an elevation of between 1,000 and 6,000 feet. It grows best on the temperate slopes on the east side of the Andes.

COCA CULTIVATION AND COCAINE PROCESSING: AN OVERVIEW . DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION . INTELLIGENCE DIVISION . STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE SECTION . SEPTEMBER 1993 . EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . Two of the lesser understood aspects of the illicit cocaine traffic are the . cultivation of the coca plant and the conversion of the coca leaf into . …