{"id":81747,"date":"2025-09-29T00:15:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T03:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=81747"},"modified":"2025-10-01T10:38:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:38:38","slug":"rocinha-residents-raise-tilapia-in-water-tanks-as-an-alternative-against-hunger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=81747","title":{"rendered":"Rocinha Residents Raise Tilapia In Water Tanks in Fight Against Hunger"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rocinha<\/a>
Rocinha residents collect fish raised in water tanks on their rooftops for their own consumption. Photo: Lucas Euller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

For the original article by Karen Fontoura published in Fala Ro\u00e7a, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Arriving at Terreir\u00e3o da Rua 1, at the top of Rio de Janeiro’s<\/span> Rocinha<\/span><\/a> favela and near the Pedra do Morro Dois Irm\u00e3os (Two Brothers Mountain, an iconic rock formation with breathtaking views of the city), there is a clear movement for environmental preservation. It is the<\/span> Garden in the Favela<\/span><\/a> project, an initiative created by Fl\u00e1vio Gomes, a 50-year resident of the community. The project combines urban vegetable gardening in small spaces, forest clean-ups and raising fish in tanks.<\/span><\/p>\n

In November 2025, Brazil will host the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (<\/span>COP30<\/span><\/a>) in Bel\u00e9m,<\/span> Par\u00e1<\/span><\/a> state, in the heart of the Brazilian<\/span> Amazon<\/span><\/a>. This global event brings together nations to discuss and negotiate measures to combat<\/span> global warming<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> climate change<\/span><\/a>. But Fl\u00e1vio Gomes\u2019 example shows that it is already possible to live in a<\/span>\u00a0sustainable favela<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> fight hunger<\/span><\/a> with knowledge and a little investment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had the knowledge I have today, maybe my family wouldn\u2019t have been featured in the newspaper as the poorest family in Rocinha in 1979. Much of the poverty we experienced back then was, in part, due to a lack of knowledge about food,\u201d Gomes recalls, moved by the memories of a childhood lived in social vulnerability.<\/p>\n

At the project\u2019s headquarters\u2014a rented space\u2014it is common to find Gomes with his hands in the soil, wearing a straw hat as he prepares the ground to cultivate edible plants. With creativity, he and his brother transform what would be<\/span> garbage<\/span><\/a> into structures for food production: using discarded refrigerators, buckets, water tanks, bottles and other recyclable materials collected from the forest to build garden beds, tanks for raising tilapia, and compost bins that produce nutrient-rich soil.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"At<\/a>
At the Garden in the Favela headquarters, Fl\u00e1vio Gomes cultivates edible plants and dreams of seeing Rocinha recover its agricultural identity as a way to fight food insecurity. Photo: Karen Fontoura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cOne of my dreams is to see Rocinha regain its agricultural identity and be what it once was: a big \u2018ro\u00e7a\u2019\u2014a farm where residents grew their own food and sold it at local fairs and markets.\u201d \u2014 Fl\u00e1vio Gomes<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He believes this knowledge can also become a source of income for those living in the favela. According to a 2023 survey<\/a> by the Pereira Passos Institute<\/a> on Social Territories in the 10 Largest Favela Complexes, around 5,328 families in Rocinha face food insecurity<\/a>. The study interviewed 24,000 residents and found that 3,861 families live in extreme poverty.<\/p>\n

Aware of this reality, Gomes decided to study<\/span> agroecology<\/span><\/a>, fish farming and meliponiculture\u2014the practice of raising stingless bees\u2014to develop a sustainable model of food production in the favela. He learned that<\/span> tilapia<\/span>, a freshwater fish species popular for its rapid growth and easy adaptation to different environments, can thrive in rooftop water tanks. Tilapia is an excellent source of protein and nutrients and is widely consumed in many culinary traditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gomes continues to work on strengthening collective awareness about proper solid waste disposal<\/a>, encouraging reuse, and inspiring residents to transform their own spaces. However, he does acknowledge that the exhausting routine of most residents\u2014often working six days a week with a single day off\u2014makes it difficult for them to connect with the soil.<\/p>\n

\"Acknowledging<\/a>
Acknowledging that exhausting routines make it difficult for most residents to reconnect with the soil, Gomes keeps working to inspire them to transform their own spaces. Here he shows the papaya tree planted at the project\u2019s headquarters. Photo: Karen Fontoura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For this reason, Gomes hosts workshops to share what he has learned in courses, offering practices for everyday life. \u201cI just planted a cashew tree here, and I also want to plant my jabuticaba tree. The roots help keep the soil in place and prevent landslides,\u201d he explains, showing that sustainability begins with caring for the community.<\/p>\n

Sustainability and Money in Your Pocket<\/h3>\n

The area where the project operates is located in the<\/span> Tijuca Massif<\/span><\/a>, near the<\/span> Tijuca National Park<\/span><\/a>, a preserved forest region surrounding Rocinha. Amid the lack of<\/span> basic sanitation<\/span><\/a>, irregular waste disposal, and limited access to healthy food, the initiative offers a concrete and inspiring response.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, three families in the favela already maintain their own tilapia tanks with support from the project. The process, according to Gomes, is simple but requires dedication. \u201cMany residents can adapt the model to their homes,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

During Holy Week in April, a resident sold R$630 (~US$116) worth of tilapia to friends, showing the initiative\u2019s potential to generate income<\/a> in Rocinha.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Alexandre even caught fish for his family\u2014for his mother and siblings,\u201d Gomes recalls. He explains that with about R$1,000 (~US$184), a resident can buy the materials needed to build a tilapia tank. And the best part? If they use materials discarded in the forest, the cost is even lower. \u201cWe already have the knowledge and the will! There are about four residents who want to set up tilapia tanks, but they just don\u2019t have the money to invest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rocinha<\/a>
Rocinha residents collect fish raised in rooftop water tanks, ensuring fresh food for their own consumption and strengthening food sovereignty in the community. Photo: Lucas Euller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to data from the Access to Information Act, 8,293 families in Rocinha were receiving Bolsa Fam\u00edlia<\/a> benefits in May 2024. This government program is essential for the fight against hunger in the favela. However, not everyone who needs the benefit is able to access it, which underscores the importance of autonomous, community-driven initiatives like Gomes\u2019.<\/p>\n

Lucilene Ribeiro, 34, also a resident, wants to set up a vegetable garden at home to grow her own food: \u201cThe kids are already saying they\u2019ll help him [Gomes] and see how to make a garden at home. Even I\u2019m looking for some pots to put up here [on the wall] so<\/span> I can grow my own food<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Even with all this community engagement, the project has still not received financial support. It has had to move its headquarters after the rented house where it was based was sold.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new headquarters is currently being renovated to host local school groups as well as community leaders interested in spreading the project\u2019s knowledge. \u201cHaving sponsors would give us an extra boost. We could pay residents who are already working with us, and that would allow everyone to dedicate themselves more. Not having to worry about the monthly bills alone would create many new opportunities,\u201d Gomes emphasizes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did You Know?<\/h3>\n

Agroecology<\/strong>: the study of how to grow food and care for the soil in a natural way that respects the environment. In practice, it means making vegetable gardens using organic fertilizer, reusing food scraps, and planting without pesticides\u2014much like people used to do in the past.<\/p>\n

Pisciculture<\/strong>: fish farming, the practice of raising fish. In Gomes\u2019 case, he raises tilapia in water tanks, which helps produce fresh, healthy food right in the favela.<\/p>\n

Meliponiculture<\/strong>: the raising of stingless bees. These bees help pollinate plants\u2014allowing them to bear fruit\u2014and also produce honey, which can be eaten or even sold.<\/p>\n

Composting<\/strong>: the process of transforming food scraps\u2014like fruit and vegetable peels\u2014into natural fertilizer. Instead of being thrown away, these scraps become nutrient-rich \u201cgood soil\u201d for planting. Beyond reducing waste, composting helps care for plants and the environment.<\/p>\n

Non-conventional Edible Plants (Ancestral PANCs)<\/strong>: these are neither a trend nor mere ingredients of alternative cuisine. They are foods that have always existed in Black, Indigenous and peripheral areas, as taught by Brazilian activist and quilombola leader<\/span> N\u00eago Bispo<\/span><\/a>. They grow in our backyards and often go unnoticed, yet they have always been present in our grandmothers\u2019 cooking, at street markets, and in the hands of those who know they offer a wide range of flavors, textures and nutritional benefits. They may be the key to enriching your diet and ensuring your family\u2019s food security\u2014while rooting the future in ancestral knowledge. You might even have PANCs at home\u2026 and don\u2019t even know it! (With information from @brunacriola and Invivo \u2013 Fiocruz\u2019s Museum of Life).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

About the author: <\/span><\/i>Karen Fontoura<\/span><\/i><\/a> is a journalism student at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (<\/span><\/i>UFRJ<\/span><\/i><\/a>), a resident of <\/span><\/i>Rocinha<\/span><\/i><\/a>, and a reporter with community newspaper <\/span><\/i>Fala Ro\u00e7a<\/span><\/i><\/a>, where she coordinates the organization\u2019s institutional and project communications. She works with audiovisual production, reporting and the promotion of community initiatives.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n

Support\u00a0<\/b>RioOnWatch<\/i><\/b>\u2019s tireless, critical and cutting-edge hyperlocal journalism, online community organizing meetings, and direct support to favelas\u00a0by clicking here<\/a><\/b>.<\/b><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas For the original article by Karen Fontoura published in Fala Ro\u00e7a, click here.\u00a0 Arriving at Terreir\u00e3o da Rua 1, at the top of Rio de Janeiro’s Rocinha favela and near the […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":245,"featured_media":81783,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1288,1328,3477,1271,329,452,1330],"tags":[244,3774,697,472,2405,258,3540,1974,2084,267,291,3148,3534,386,3337,1278,3813,876,388,12,1403,156,489,287],"writer":[3664],"translator":[3784],"illustrator":[],"photographer":[3811,3812],"class_list":{"0":"post-81747","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-highlight","8":"category-by-community-contributors","9":"category-climate-justice","10":"category-favelaqualities","11":"category-solutions","12":"category-rio20","13":"category-translation","14":"tag-agroecology","15":"tag-ancestral-knowledge","16":"tag-bolsa-familia","17":"tag-climate-change","18":"tag-community-garden","19":"tag-community-solution","20":"tag-cop","21":"tag-creativity","22":"tag-fala-roca","23":"tag-fishing-colony","24":"tag-food","25":"tag-food-security","26":"tag-food-sovereignty","27":"tag-trash","28":"tag-hunger","29":"tag-income","30":"tag-pancs","31":"tag-poverty","32":"tag-recycling","33":"tag-rocinha","34":"tag-solution","35":"tag-south-zone","36":"tag-tijuca-forest","37":"tag-urban-agriculture","38":"writer-karen-fontoura","39":"translator-a-m-oliver","40":"photographer-karen-fontoura","41":"photographer-lucas-euller"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/245"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=81747"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81805,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81747\/revisions\/81805"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/81783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=81747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=81747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=81747"},{"taxonomy":"writer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwriter&post=81747"},{"taxonomy":"translator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftranslator&post=81747"},{"taxonomy":"illustrator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fillustrator&post=81747"},{"taxonomy":"photographer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fphotographer&post=81747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}