Die Frucht, die aus der Dürre kam

The Namib Desert in southwestern Africa is one of the few places on Earth where it almost never rains. Here live the Topnaar, one of the last desert peoples on the planet. Like many indigenous peoples, their traditional way of life is threatened, but a fruit that grows in the desert offers hope. It could secure the survival of the Topnaar in the Namib. Rudolf Dauseb, a member of the Topnaar people, wants to secure the future of his people – with the help of the Nara melon. This fruit has enabled his people to survive in the inhospitable environment of the Namib for millennia. The Nara melon is to be cultivated and grown systematically; the resulting industry could create jobs. The melon can be harvested for five months of the year. The fruit is versatile; even the rinds are not discarded but used as animal feed. The oil extracted from its seeds is five times more nutritious than regular cooking oil. Scientists also see potential applications for the fruit in the cosmetics industry. Humidity could be extracted from the air using collectors for plant irrigation. "360° - The GEO Reportage" depicts the desert people's struggle for survival.