Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) from plants are an important source of livelihoods and well-being for rural populations in developing countries. This study determined the contribution of NTFPs to the income diversification of rural populations in the south-west and center-south regions of Burkina Faso. Market surveys were conducted with 285 participants in nine rural and five urban markets to collect information on NTFP products sold, sales units, procurement methods, and selling prices over the dry and rainy seasons. Data were collected for 13 NTFPs. NTFP sellers were mainly women (97%). NTFPs were most abundant during the rainy season. The results focus on the two most abundant NTFPs with the highest sale values per kilogram in the study area: the fermented seed condiment named soumbala (25% of participants) from seeds of Parkia biglobosa, and shea
butter (21% of participants) from Vitellaria paradoxa nuts. The procurement method had a significant effect on the price of shea butter and soumbala. Shea butter and soumbala collectors-processors had the highest total profit margin within the value-added chain during both seasons. NTFP processing actively contributes to the diversification of rural people’s income sources. Local domestication of NTFP-producing species is needed to sustain the diversification of rural people’s incomes.
Economic value, Shea butter, Soumbala, Value-added chain, Beurre de karité