From coca to coffee: An analysis of functional farm household types through archetypal trajectories of change in post-conflict areas of Colombia
Abstract
This study examines the shift from coca (Erythroxylum coca) leaf cultivation to legal agricultural systems in southern Meta, Colombia, a historically conflict-affected region. Using archetype analysis and a rural livelihoods framework, we examined the adaptation processes of 23 smallholder households in Uribe and Mesetas municipalities, where Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) has been promoted as a key legal alternative. Data were gathered through semi-structured surveys that explored two main aspects: (1) how farmers diversified and managed their farms with the crop substitution program, and (2) what technological strategies they have implemented in their coffee plots to maintain production under marginal agroecological conditions. Data on 34 variables were standardized into livelihood capitals and farming practices. The analysis identified six archetypal responses, which were then categorized into three household types: pure, mixed, and balanced. Traditional, innovative, and diversified livelihood strategies were distinguished based on levels of market integration, access to institutions, and labor dynamics. Coffee-specific archetypes showed different levels of input use, farming intensity, and ecological integration. Common constraints included limited technical assistance, labor shortages, and input costs. A cross-impact analysis (MICMAC method) identified poor soil fertility as a systemic issue and market price volatility as a major vulnerability. Results suggest that socioeconomic diversity significantly influences the success of illicit crop substitution efforts and that effective transitions require support tailored to the local context, especially in areas with weak institutional presence. Archetype analysis was useful for identifying household-level adaptation patterns and highlighted the importance of targeted, inclusive rural development strategies that move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions. This approach provides practical insights for improving policy targeting similar post-conflict rural transitions.
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BibTeX
@article{cardona2026from,
title = {{From coca to coffee: An analysis of functional farm household types through archetypal trajectories of change in post-conflict areas of Colombia}},
author = {William Andrés Cardona and Carlos Eduardo Ospina Parra and Luis Gabriel Bautista Montealegre and Eric Scopel and Martha Marina Bolaños Benavides and Pablo Tittonell},
journal = {Journal of Rural Studies},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104235},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05793465v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - From coca to coffee: An analysis of functional farm household types through archetypal trajectories of change in post-conflict areas of Colombia
AU - William Andrés Cardona
AU - Carlos Eduardo Ospina Parra
AU - Luis Gabriel Bautista Montealegre
AU - Eric Scopel
AU - Martha Marina Bolaños Benavides
AU - Pablo Tittonell
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Journal of Rural Studies
DO - 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104235
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05793465v1
AB - This study examines the shift from coca (Erythroxylum coca) leaf cultivation to legal agricultural systems in southern Meta, Colombia, a historically conflict-affected region. Using archetype analysis and a rural livelihoods framework, we examined the adaptation processes of 23 smallholder households in Uribe and Mesetas municipalities, where Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) has been promoted as a key legal alternative. Data were gathered through semi-structured surveys that explored two main aspects: (1) how farmers diversified and managed their farms with the crop substitution program, and (2) what technological strategies they have implemented in their coffee plots to maintain production under marginal agroecological conditions. Data on 34 variables were standardized into livelihood capitals and farming practices. The analysis identified six archetypal responses, which were then categorized into three household types: pure, mixed, and balanced. Traditional, innovative, and diversified livelihood strategies were distinguished based on levels of market integration, access to institutions, and labor dynamics. Coffee-specific archetypes showed different levels of input use, farming intensity, and ecological integration. Common constraints included limited technical assistance, labor shortages, and input costs. A cross-impact analysis (MICMAC method) identified poor soil fertility as a systemic issue and market price volatility as a major vulnerability. Results suggest that socioeconomic diversity significantly influences the success of illicit crop substitution efforts and that effective transitions require support tailored to the local context, especially in areas with weak institutional presence. Archetype analysis was useful for identifying household-level adaptation patterns and highlighted the importance of targeted, inclusive rural development strategies that move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions. This approach provides practical insights for improving policy targeting similar post-conflict rural transitions.
SN - 0743-0167
ER -