Saving the Moroccan Landrace

Dublin City Diesel said:

Hey GroErr!

Thanks for your input. I heard a lot of positive things about ACE and The real seed company. I even got me some Malawi seeds.
Kudos to you for preserving the old genetics dude!

However, nothing that looks like a pure Moroccan strain. A german guy did bring back some seeds to grow them out hoping to find that sweet honey Moroccan Sativa but I'm not sure whether he found what he was looking for.

Here is the very interesting thread he created: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=347021.

Have you guys been to Morocco lately?

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Dublin City Diesel said:

Hello Rollitupers,

I have been passionate about the history of our beloved plant for over 13 years and more specifically about landrace strains.

Unfortunately, it seems that just like regional accents and dialects, landrace strains are also dying out and disappearing quickly.

It can be attributed to globalization, eradication campaigns, demand for an end product higher in cannabinoids and the list goes on...

I would like to go to the Moroccan Rif during the summer, to find some real moroccan landrace seeds and bring them back in an effort to preserve the very old and unique genetics of that region.

However, from what I have heard and researched, it appears that the Kif landrace, also called Bledia, has already almost disappeared from the Rif.

Apparently, farmer brought seeds from Pakistan and Afghanistan in the 90's which "polluted" most of the pure Morrocan Sativa genes. Then, since 2002-2003, moroccan farmers have started hybridising their strains with genetic material from Holland to bring up THC levels and resin production.

The genuine Moroccan landrace is supposed to be Sativa and automatic as they used to be harvested in July in the Rif.

My Question to all you old-timers and landrace enthusiasts out there: Is it too late to find some seeds of that Old-school Moroccan Kif or is it still being cultivated is some remote areas?

I really want to preserve that cultural heritage (I'm part Moroccan) and preserve the genetics by open-pollinating. I also believe that, as it becomes more and more legal throughout the world, people will want to use it as a medicine but some unique medical properties can only be found is some specific strains. I think the real genetic diversity lies in landrace strains.

However, if we don't fight to preserve the genes, it will be lost forever. Before it even becomes legal worldwide once again.

Your input would be highly valuable!

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madininagyal said:

You are too late, let me explain, since 2005, pure hiya was a thing of the past, they bring a lot of afghan seed in the valley, they just trow seed and weed out the mâle as they spot them, in 2 years almost 80% of the cultivar were not pure hiya, i was loving it, Sativa high, clear and ernergize, when now they are indica hybride, strong stone and couchlock,

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Dublin City Diesel said:

Seeds are tolerated worldwide aren't they?

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Dublin City Diesel said:

Thanks for the info buddy.

Wow, that's crazy. I knew that they had started growing some new indica strains from Afghanistan/Paki but didn't think it would spread so quickly.

Do you think there's a chance that in some remote areas they may still be growing the old Moroccan Sativa strain?

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xtsho said:

What about the Ketama landrace indica? It's used by the locals to make hash. They've been doing it for centuries. I've grown it and it will start flowering before switching to 12/12. I crossed it with White Russian and I've got males showing pollen sacs under 18/6.

https://pevgrow.com/blog/en/ketama-the-cradle-of-the-best-hash-in-the-world/#Ketama_Marijuana_Features

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Dublin City Diesel said:

Hello Rollitupers,

I have been passionate about the history of our beloved plant for over 13 years and more specifically about landrace strains.

Unfortunately, it seems that just like regional accents and dialects, landrace strains are also dying out and disappearing quickly.

It can be attributed to globalization, eradication campaigns, demand for an end product higher in cannabinoids and the list goes on...

I would like to go to the Moroccan Rif during the summer, to find some real moroccan landrace seeds and bring them back in an effort to preserve the very old and unique genetics of that region.

However, from what I have heard and researched, it appears that the Kif landrace, also called Bledia, has already almost disappeared from the Rif.

Apparently, farmer brought seeds from Pakistan and Afghanistan in the 90's which "polluted" most of the pure Morrocan Sativa genes. Then, since 2002-2003, moroccan farmers have started hybridising their strains with genetic material from Holland to bring up THC levels and resin production.

The genuine Moroccan landrace is supposed to be Sativa and automatic as they used to be harvested in July in the Rif.

My Question to all you old-timers and landrace enthusiasts out there: Is it too late to find some seeds of that Old-school Moroccan Kif or is it still being cultivated is some remote areas?

I really want to preserve that cultural heritage (I'm part Moroccan) and preserve the genetics by open-pollinating. I also believe that, as it becomes more and more legal throughout the world, people will want to use it as a medicine but some unique medical properties can only be found is some specific strains. I think the real genetic diversity lies in landrace strains.

However, if we don't fight to preserve the genes, it will be lost forever. Before it even becomes legal worldwide once again.

Your input would be highly valuable!

Click to expand...

xtsho said:

What about the Ketama landrace indica? It's used by the locals to make hash. They've been doing it for centuries. I've grown it and it will start flowering before switching to 12/12. I crossed it with White Russian and I've got males showing pollen sacs under 18/6.

https://pevgrow.com/blog/en/ketama-the-cradle-of-the-best-hash-in-the-world/#Ketama_Marijuana_Features

Click to expand...

Michael Huntherz said:

Do you have any molecular phylogeny data to back up your claims about the natural history of this landrace? I am pretty sure hybridization started earlier than that in Morocco.

I am afraid it is too late for any “purity” to be preserved. Purity is a flawed notion, to begin with.

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Dublin City Diesel said:

Hello Rollitupers,

I have been passionate about the history of our beloved plant for over 13 years and more specifically about landrace strains.

Unfortunately, it seems that just like regional accents and dialects, landrace strains are also dying out and disappearing quickly.

It can be attributed to globalization, eradication campaigns, demand for an end product higher in cannabinoids and the list goes on...

I would like to go to the Moroccan Rif during the summer, to find some real moroccan landrace seeds and bring them back in an effort to preserve the very old and unique genetics of that region.

However, from what I have heard and researched, it appears that the Kif landrace, also called Bledia, has already almost disappeared from the Rif.

Apparently, farmer brought seeds from Pakistan and Afghanistan in the 90's which "polluted" most of the pure Morrocan Sativa genes. Then, since 2002-2003, moroccan farmers have started hybridising their strains with genetic material from Holland to bring up THC levels and resin production.

The genuine Moroccan landrace is supposed to be Sativa and automatic as they used to be harvested in July in the Rif.

My Question to all you old-timers and landrace enthusiasts out there: Is it too late to find some seeds of that Old-school Moroccan Kif or is it still being cultivated is some remote areas?

I really want to preserve that cultural heritage (I'm part Moroccan) and preserve the genetics by open-pollinating. I also believe that, as it becomes more and more legal throughout the world, people will want to use it as a medicine but some unique medical properties can only be found is some specific strains. I think the real genetic diversity lies in landrace strains.

However, if we don't fight to preserve the genes, it will be lost forever. Before it even becomes legal worldwide once again.

Your input would be highly valuable!

Click to expand...

Dublin City Diesel said:

Thank you KLX. Yes I have been to Morocco before but I was in Marrakesh. And yes people are very friendly and welcoming.
No worries, I don't intend to bring back anything illegal whatsoever. Just seeds if I can find the real old school Sativa strain. Seeds are tolerated worldwide aren't they?

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