US\, Colombia vow to cut coca production

US, Colombia vow to cut coca production

IANS  |  Cartagena (Colombia) 

US and Colombian Ivan have vowed to take steps to reduce production by 50 per cent by 2023.

said in a meeting here with that he is "deeply concerned" about the increased production of leaf, the raw material for cocaine, in Colombia, the reported on Thursday.

A recent UN report said the amount of agricultural land used for crops in had hit record levels.

The country has fought for years to tackle cocaine production, with the US providing around $400 million annually to help combat the producers and traffickers.

is the world's largest of cocaine, while the US is the world's largest consumer.

"The US remains deeply concerned about the surge in coca cultivation and cocaine production in since 2013, and its impact on each of our two countries," said.

"We know we must do our part to reduce demand in our country and we'll work alongside you here as well."

thanked the US for its support in the drugs war.

In August 2018, newly-elected Duque said the government would create a new drug-fighting policy, with a goal to have "concrete results" in the next four years.

--IANS

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First Published: Thu, January 03 2019. 11:46 IST