	Background

The United States has provided support to drug crop eradication programs in the Andes sincethe 1980s and for alternative development (AD) since at least the 1970s. Since 2000, the centerpieceof the U.S. counternarcotics policy has been the Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI), withColombia the major recipient. ACI supports anumber of missions, including interdiction of drug trafficking, illicit crop eradication, alternativedevelopment, and rule of law and democracy promotion in the Andes. The three main producers of cocaine -- Colombia, Bolivia and Peru -- collectively producenearly the entire global supply. In addition, Colombia has become a producer of high quality heroin,most of it destined for the United States. From FY2000 through FY2005, the United States has provided a total of about $4.3 billion from theAndean Counterdrug Initiative account. FMF assistance to Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia has the objectiveof establishing and strengthening national authority in remote areas that are prone to drug trafficking,and related activities of illegally armed groups. Drug crops can also be manually eradicated, often with the agreement of the grower, but also withouthis consent. (7) 
Reductions in coca and opium poppy cultivation began to be seen by 2003. While once the largest producer of cocaine in the Andes, it is now second toColombia. Alternative Development Programs

Providing alternatives to drug crop cultivation is believed to be a crucial component toachieve effective eradication. U.S. alternative development programs are managed by the U.S.Agency for International Development, and often include technical support for farmers agreeing togive up their drug crops, marketing assistance, and the strengthening of transportation infrastructurein order to get crops to market. (14) 

	Issues for Congress

Congress has expressed a number of concerns with regard to eradication, including thefollowing: the health and environmental effects of aerial spraying; the reliability of drug cropestimates; and the effectiveness and sustainability of eradication. With regard to alternativedevelopment, Congress has expressed interest in its effectiveness; its relationship with eradication;and the long-term sustainability of programs. (21) The State Department has certified four times since 2002 thatthe herbicide mixture poses no unreasonable risk to health or the environment, and that usage inColombia is consistent with applications in the United States and with label recommendations. According to the Office of NationalDrug Control Policy, the eradication program in Colombia has resulted in potential cocaineproduction decreasing by 7% in 2004 to 430 metric tons of pure cocaine. This is down from its peakof 700 metric tons in 2001. (65) 
Linking Eradication and AD. Appendix A. Map of the Andean Region
The United States has supported drug crop eradication and alternative development programsin the Andes for decades. Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru collectively produce nearly the entire globalsupply of cocaine. In addition, Colombia has become a producer of high quality heroin, most of itdestined for the United States and Europe. The United States provides counternarcotics assistancethrough the Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI). The program supports a number of missions,including interdiction of drug trafficking, illicit crop eradication, alternative development, and ruleof law and democracy promotion. From FY2000 through FY2005, the United States has provideda total of about $4.3 billion in ACI funds.
Since 2001, coca cultivation in the Andes has been reduced by 22%, with the largest decreaseoccurring in Colombia, according to the State Department. Opium poppy crops, grown mainly inColombia and from which heroin is made, have been reduced by 67%. However, the region wasstill capable of producing 640 metric tons of cocaine, and 3.8 metric tons of heroin in 2004,according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Congress has expressed a number of concerns with regard to eradication, especially the healthand environmental effects of aerial spraying, its sustainability and social consequences, and thereliability of drug crop estimates. With regard to alternative development, Congress has expressedinterest in its effectiveness, its relationship to eradication, and the long-term sustainability ofprograms once they are started.
Drug crops are eradicated either manually or by aerial spraying of a herbicide mixture, themain ingredient being glyphosate, used commercially in the United States under the brand name ofRoundupÂ®. Eradication can be conducted with the voluntary agreement of growers, or involuntarily. Peru and Bolivia do not allow aerial eradication, which has proven to be controversial. Criticsbelieve it poses risks to the environment and the health of inhabitants living in sprayed regions. Proponents believe it is the most effective and safe means to defoliate large areas being used for drugcrop cultivation, thereby removing a lucrative source of income from the illegally armed Colombiangroups.
Providing alternatives to drug crops is believed to be crucial to achieve effective eradication. This often includes technical support for farmers, marketing assistance, and strengthening thetransportation infrastructure in order to get crops to market. The U.S. approach to alternativedevelopment (AD) is to link it to eradication. Growers who agree to eradicate are eligible forassistance.
This report will not be updated. For more information on the Andean Counterdrug Initiative,see CRS Report RL32337 , Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI) and Related Funding Programs:FY2005 Assistance ; and CRS Report RL32774 , Plan Colombia: A Progress Report , both by ConnieVeillette.