VOA慢速英语-Agriculture Report - Seeking a New Future for 'Lost'

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

We have a question from a health worker -- and longtime listener -- in Nigeria. James Uwaifoh says there are many food crops that were grown in the past but not any longer. He wants to know if it would be possible for communities to grow these foods again. He says it could provide a way to reduce food shortages, hunger and nutrition disorders¹.

Well, a committee of scientists appointed by the United States National Research Council had the same thought. Earlier this year, they called attention to twenty-four African fruits that today are largely unused. The experts said these fruits are a resource that could help fight malnutrition² and support rural development in Africa.

Their study was the last in a series of reports on "lost crops of Africa." Earlier reports dealt with grains and vegetables.

In Africa, the main tropical fruits now are bananas, pineapples and papayas. Colonial rulers imported these crops already improved from the Americas and Asia centuries ago. Over time, these displaced traditional fruits that had fed Africans for thousands of years.

Today Africa's traditional fruits are mostly raised in villages and home gardens. There are few large operations for cultivating them. The scientists suggest that horticultural science could improve the crops.

In terms of nutritional³ value, the report says fruits like carissa, marula and kei apple contain more vitamin C than the average orange. The fruit of the tamarind tree is high in B vitamins and calcium⁴. And the fruit can stay good for months without cold storage.
　
Baobab Tree

Fruit from the baobab tree contains a sticky material that can be dried into a powder high in protein, vitamins and minerals. The powder can be mixed into a drink with warm water or milk. Or it can be beaten and dried into thin pancakes that can be stored for months or even years.

Most African fruits grow wild. Scientists know very little about them. The fruits have names like aizen, gumvine, sweet detar and ebony. Ebony trees are valued for their black hardwood. But they also produce a sweet fruit that can be eaten fresh or dried.

Researcher Mark Dafforn directed the study. He says the traditional fruits of Africa have proven their ability to survive droughts and floods. He believes farming them can succeed.

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. Transcripts⁵ and MP3 archives of our reports are at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.

 

1 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

3 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

4 calcium   

n.钙(化学符号Ca)

参考例句：

• We need calcium to make bones.我们需要钙来壮骨。
• Calcium is found most abundantly in milk.奶含钙最丰富。

5 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句