Exploitation of non-timber food products and its influence on income inequality in rural Burkina Faso

Issoufou Ouédraogo

Abstract
This paper examines the role of non-timber forest product (NTFP) exploitation in reducing rural income inequality in Burkina Faso. Using primary data collected in 2023 from 530 randomly selected rural households, the study adopts an econometric simulation approach that treats NTFP income as a substitute for other household earnings. Counterfactual income distributions are constructed by simulating household incomes in the absence of NTFP revenues. The results reveal that the Gini coefficient of rural household incomes would be 12.09% higher without NTFP income, indicating a substantial inequality-reducing effect. These findings underscore the significant contribution of NTFPs to improving income equity in rural areas and highlight the need for policies that promote their sustainable and inclusive development.