Pelagio Condori, Vice Minister of Decolonization, assured during the meeting attended by Prensa Latina, that the purpose of this commemoration at kilometer zero of La Paz and the epicenter of Bolivian politics, has the purpose of revaluating the traditional use of this plant.
“The coca leaf is ancient, sacred, and acullico (chewing), also called ‘boleo’ or ‘pijcheo’, is a symbol of our original indigenous, peasant, intercultural and Afro-Bolivian peoples,” stated the vice-president.
Condori highlighted the role of the leaf of this ancient plant in the history of the Andean Amazon country in its history of struggles and resistance.
“It always helped us to share with Pacha Mama, to mitigate fatigue at work, as well as to strengthen intercultural ties,” he expressed during the presentation of this national celebration at the headquarters of the Ministry of Cultures, Decolonization and Depatriarchalization.
For his part, the deputy head of Coca in the Rural Development and Lands portfolio, Jesús Chipana, explained that other commemorative events will be organized in other departments and municipalities of the national territory.
He considered it very positive that as part of the Productive Social Community Economic Model promoted by the Government of President Arce, the country is moving towards the era of coca leaf industrialization.
He reported in this regard that the Cocabol industrial plant, in the construction phase in Sacaba, Cochabamba, is already at 85 percent of its construction and assembly.
He anticipated that later they hope to locate another branch in the department of La Paz to benefit the coca growers of the Yungas.
The Plurinational State of Bolivia commemorates National Acullico Day on January 11 since the promulgation of Law 864, was in 2016.
Acullico consists of chewing the coca leaf in its natural state and is part of an ancient Andean tradition.
This leaf also has medicinal use through infusions, it is used in divination rituals and serves as raw material in the production of flour, sweets, energy drinks, mates, liqueurs and toothpastes, among other applications.
The president of the Single National Confederation of Retail Producers, Dionisio García, also participated in the press conference.
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