Saving the Moroccan Landrace

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!

If you find anything pure Moroccan I'd be interested. Last year I bought up a bunch of old school landrace or stabilized strains from around the world to eventually build my own stash of older genetics that are quickly disappearing in the feminized and auto seed industry.

Only thing I found Moroccan was a cross with Chitral Kush in Cannabiogen's (ACE) Sand Storm. According to them the male in that cross was Moroccan indica. I found a nice male and female in a pack, made some backups and held the male to cross later.

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?

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?

Click to expand...

Cheers, yeah found some nice Panama in the ACE stuff, was happy with theirs and Cannabiogen, they're in some form of partnership and work together on a lot of it. One of the few still doing mainly regs. Haven't tried anything landrace Moroccan, would love to get a hold of some and try a run. Haven't been but on the bucket list at some point

Been to Morocco a few times, mainly surfing, but have also explored most of the country in a camper. You will not have any problem finding people who will help you with your quest imo. Very friendly country and accommodating and hash and poln is literally everywhere. If you have the time to get out east and down south while you are there, I highly recommend it.

One occasion we caught the car ferry from Algeciras in Spain across to Ceuta and drove through the Rif. Those towns and the towns around there are wild west and there is a lot of searching and security so be careful if you plan to smuggle through there. The guys with machine guns on the hills will give it away! The smuggling industry is well established there but without border co-operation its tricky but can be done.

Good luck!

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...

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,

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?

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,

Click to expand...

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?

Dublin City Diesel said:

Seeds are tolerated worldwide aren't they?

Click to expand...

Nope.

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?

Click to expand...

In a short périod it Will be hard, you have To make connection before and its à real hunt because the rare one are jealously protected so bring gift with you, tobacco, pipe, clothes, food etc you will ha e more chance n'y trading and get friendly with the local,but you need à guide from there because rift aint so friendly at night, cops and drug dealer are on the road

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-...-hash-in-the-world/#Ketama_Marijuana_Features

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-...-hash-in-the-world/#Ketama_Marijuana_Features

Click to expand...

Ive grown it and this one already had afghan blood, ketama wasn't an indica but à straigh Sativa,

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...

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.

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-...-hash-in-the-world/#Ketama_Marijuana_Features

Click to expand...

Hello XTSHO. Thanks for your help buddy.

The fact that these can start flowering before switching to 12/12 is really interesting. That is probably the Moroccan heritage. However, these are supposed to be Sativa, not Indica.

Did you grow it out? How did it taste like?

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.

Click to expand...

True that Michael Huntherz. Every strain comes from Asia originally just like we all come from Africa. However, these Moroccan plants have adapted to the harsh dry conditions by flowering regardless of the photoperiod because they receive more rain at the beginning of the season but it quickly become very dry.

My claims are based on general knowledge and research but I do not have molecular phylogeny data so it may not be 100% accurate.

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...

Salaam aleikum:
Yeah, you can still find Kiffi in Morocco, but as ya said it is every day more mixed with Pakistan strains n Dutch & Spanish comercial hibrids (we call to these crosses "Pakis").

Kiffi is semi-atuflorewin, so it starts to produce male or females flowers before than any other "foreigner" strains: this is the only reason cos Kiffi still survive...

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?

Click to expand...

No. Only in the Nations that signed the Vienna Conference that proclaims the total legallity of the cannabis seeds trade: USA never signed it...