Ark of the dry lands

旱地之舟

The Documentary Podcast

2025-07-10

26 分钟
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Researchers in Morocco are developing dry-land agriculture at ICARDA (the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas). It is home to a gene bank, in which around 150,000 different seed-types are kept in perfectly calibrated cold vaults, and duplicated to protect them from ‘fire, earthquake and war.’ They’re used for the creation of new varieties - such as wheat or lentils resistant to drought or disease, without pesticides. The gene bank is a public good - anyone, anywhere, can request seeds free of charge. Laaziza Atmani, head of the Al Amal women’s farming co-operative in the middle Atlas Mountains, uses ICARDA seeds and expertise to develop her couscous business. ‘Setting up the co-op changed our lives,’ she says.
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  • This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

  • It had never been done before.

  • The launch like a rocket and land like an airplane.

  • And we got people on it. 13 minutes presents The Space Shuttle.

  • Coming soon.

  • How do farmers keep growing even in the driest lands?

  • Welcome to the documentary from the BBC World Service.

  • I'm Aiden Toluk.

  • This is where we prepare the couscous.

  • This is the first stage.

  • We start by rolling the grains of the couscous in a traditional way.

  • Then we put it in the dryer.

  • We are using the whole wheat.

  • We are adding water.

  • Some water with salt.

  • Then I add a little bit of the flour.

  • Then I start rolling with the palms of my hand.

  • So we can separate.

  • The big grains from the small ones.

  • Laziza Atmani is making couscous by hand with her friends.