Coca leaves remain a source of work, faith and identity in Bolivia

Tomas Zavala performs a ritual ahead of each workday in his coca field. Deep in the lush green mountains of Bolivia’s Yungas region, the 69-year-old farmer closes his eyes, faces the soil, and asks Mother Earth for permission to harvest coca leaves.

“The coca leaf is the core of our survival,” Zavala said. “If we work the land without permission, it gets ruined.”

Outside Bolivia, the green leaf is best known as the main ingredient in cocaine. But within the South American country it is widely considered sacred, present in both rituals and everyday life.

“The coca leaf allows us to send our children to school and put food on the table,” said Zavala, who relies on harvesting coca leaves for income.

“It’s useful for everything.”

The practice that fuels Bolivia’s workforce

Bolivia recognizes the coca leaf as part of its cultural heritage, allowing cultivation within designated areas. According to the country’s Coca Producers Association, its production