national audience Based on the analysis of agriculture practised in around ten localities in Nicaragua, this study highlights significant disparities in terms of land availability and paid labour between capitalist, employer and family farms. The comparison of performance shows the full benefit of family farms: they create more wealth and stable jobs. The article therefore stresses the importance, in order to combat poverty, of maintaining and strengthening these small farms. However, the liberalisation of the economy seriously jeopardises the conduct of land policies favourable to them.