La pauvreté des exploitations familiales nicaraguayennes : retard technique ou manque de terre ?

This study, based on an analysis of farming in ten Nicaraguan communities, presents three main categories depending on land held, salaries and labour force involved : farm work is either carried out solely by hired labour, shared between farmers and extra hired labour, or entirely done by farmers and their families. The comparison of the technical and economical achievements of these groups shows the interest in family farming : it is often more productive and offers more rural employments. This article thus stresses the need to support and maintain small farms, although increasing liberalism seriously threatens favourable land policies.