Editing Coca (section)

== Cultivation ==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2018}}
{{See also|Coca production in Colombia}}
[[File:Colcoca01.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Coca tree in Colombia]]

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 production begins in the valleys and upper jungle regions of the Andean region, where the countries of Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia<ref>{{cite web|title=South American Cocaine Production|url=https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/south-american-cocaine-production|access-date=2020-08-13|website=www.culturalsurvival.org|date=19 February 2010 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=colombiareports|date=2019-08-08|title=Coca production {{!}} Colombia Reports|url=https://colombiareports.com/coca-cultivation-statistics/|access-date=2020-08-13|website=Colombia News {{!}} Colombia Reports|language=en-US}}</ref> are host to more than 98 percent of the global land area planted with coca.<ref name="Dion2008">{{cite journal
|last=Dion|first=Michelle L|author2=Russler, Catherine
|s2cid=17370223|title=Eradication Efforts, The State, Displacement And Poverty: Explaining Coca Cultivation In Colombia During Plan Colombia
|journal=Journal of Latin American Studies|year=2008|volume=40|issue=3|pages=399–421|doi=10.1017/s0022216x08004380}}<!--|access-date=15 June 2013--></ref> In the early 19th century, coca was cultivated in what is today the [[Dominican Republic]] (see [[Mayorasgo de Koka]]). In 2014, coca plantations were discovered in [[Mexico]],<ref>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-discovery-of-mexicos-first-coca-plantation-could-upend-the-cocaine-business/ The discovery of Mexico's first coca plantation] ''Vice''</ref> and in 2020 in [[Honduras]],<ref>[https://www.laprensa.hn/sucesos/1401752-410/colon-droga-narcolaboratorios-honduras-antinarcoticos-colombia-honduras]"in La Prensa 17 August 2020"</ref> which could have major implications for the illegal cultivation of the plant.

The seeds are sown from December to January in small plots ({{lang|es|almacigas}}) sheltered from the sun, and the young plants when at {{convert|40|to|60|cm|0|abbr=on}} in height are placed in final planting holes ({{lang|es|aspi}}), or if the ground is level, in furrows ({{lang|es|uachos}}) in carefully [[weed]]ed soil. The plants thrive best in hot, damp and humid locations, such as the clearings of forests; but the leaves most preferred are obtained in drier areas, on the hillsides. The leaves are gathered from plants varying in age from one and a half to upwards of forty years, but only the new fresh growth is harvested. They are considered ready for plucking when they break on being bent. The first and most abundant harvest is in March after the rainy season, the second is at the end of June, and the third in October or November. The green leaves (''matu'') are spread in thin layers on coarse [[wool]]len cloths and dried in the sun; they are then packed in sacks, which must be kept dry in order to preserve the quality of the leaves.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coca Cultivation and Cocaine Processing:An Overview|url=https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/132907NCJRS.pdf}}</ref><ref name="EB1911"/>
{{Gallery
|title=Morphology of the coca plant
|width=200
|File:Colcoca02.jpg|Leaves
|File:Colcoca04.jpg|Leaves and fruit
|File:Colcoca03.jpg|Leaves and branches
}}