Cultivo de tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) a pequeña escala ¿alternativa alimentaria para familias rurales y periurbanas de México? - Small-scale culture of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), alimentary alternative for rural and peri-urban families in Mexico?

There is a global trend towards intensification of aquaculture-based systems, however a large portion of world production from aquaculture is still in small-scale "rural type" and extensive systems. The term “rural aquaculture” has been used to distinguish, from other production systems, the culture of aquatic organisms by families through extensive or semiintensive systems, for home consumption or partial marketing. Studies conducted in various regions of Mexico suggested that rural aquaculture of tilapia could be an alternative activity, able to dampen the demand and reduce pressure on natural resources. This paper analyzes the culture of tilapia considering the minimum management, with low fish density and low water exchange with the intention to suggest simple techniques of production that could be implemented in poor rural and peri-urban areas of tropical Mexico. The results of our study were compared with data from a commercial production: final average weight and percentage growth rate didn't differ significantly when comparing them with those obtained in commercial cultures. FCR was better under the experimental conditions