Local Foods The Best Option for Now!by | 23-01-2015 09:07 |
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The word 'Local' is wide in nature hence, cannot be strictly tied down to a particular definition. Simply, it could mean anything grown within a 150- to 500-mile radius while some other definitions may even stretch it far enough to consider anything grown in the country as local. Based upon the introductory framework above, the implicit import of this article is basically to shed some light on the numerous advantages of sticking to foods produced locally while also advocating for massive production and consumption of local foods. To begin with, foods which are grown locally contribute to a robust regional economy. This is perceived in the sense that residents are able to produce their own food and consume same which in effect enables them to reserve money for other purposes which would have otherwise been expended on importing food outside their local environment. Similarly, food produced locally can also be exported and sold to people in other places which in turn amounts to more financial yields for the exporting local producers. For example, Nigeria is a country richly endowed with sea foods and these have become a major source of livelihood for many and it generates massive income for the country through exportation of the sea foods processed in the region. Furthermore, local food is a quite indispensable factor in building societies which are progressive. It ensures the health of individuals and helps to maintain sickness-free communities. Moreover, when we opt for food which is locally produced, we consciously build an enduring system of regional independence. This consequently removes or reduces to a very large extent, our dependency on corporate providers who consistently degrade a lot of our communities. Importantly, according to a writer, when we strengthen the bonds between farms and schools, we build cultures that connect people. Perhaps the most interesting part of producing and consuming local food is the strong environmental benefit that comes with it. Foods grown locally are more often produced on a smaller scale and therefore may require fewer pesticides and chemical fertilizers. In an age of climate change, commercial or large scale use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers is nothing but atrocious and can further worsen the occurrence of climate change and its adverse impacts. Local food is a dependable link to a more sustainable living hence, its importance can never by any stretch of imagination be over-emphasized. If anything, it is the surest way to go! |
