Purpose – This study investigates how income from non-farm activities affects households’ consumption in
two land holders’ groups: households with insecure land holding and households with secure land holding.
Design/methodology/approach – Following an instrumental variable approach, this study analyzes data
collected on a nationwide sample of 1,800 households in rural Burkina Faso.
Findings – For insecure land holders’ group, this study finds that income from non-farm activities has a
positive effect on household consumption per capita. Moreover, the share of household food consumption is
negatively associated with non-farm income in this group. For secure land holders’ group, the results show that
non-farm income has only a negative effect on the share of their food consumption.
Originality/value – The study highlights the livelihood sustaining role of non-farm activities for rural
households. Unlike previous studies, the results show that non-farm income is particularly important for land
tenure insecure households facing risk of losing agricultural income.

Land tenure Non-farm income Consumption per capita