This article describes the seasonal variation in production and household organisation in a Sahelian farming village. With the loosening of domestic responsibilities, once the harvest is stored, the dry season offers a range of income‐earning activities for the individual to pursue. Those from grain surplus households can use this period to build up private sources of wealth. Grain deficit households must use dry season incomes to help them get through the next farming season. This differential capacity to make use of the dry season accentuates differences in household size and wealth.