Bozok Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi Cilt:1, Sayı: 2, Syf: 71-94 Bozok Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi (Bozok Journal of Agriculture and Natural Sciences) https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/bojans e-ISSN: 2822-4604 Research Article Livelihood Status of Paddy Rice Agro-Processors that Benefitted from Microfinance Credit in Jigawa State of Nigeria Sanusi Mohammed SADIQ, 1,* Bashir Sanyinna SANI 2 1 Federal University Dutse, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, PMB 7156, Dutse, Nigeria, 1 Graduate Student, Federal University Dutse, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, PMB 7156, Dutse, Nigeria, 1 https://orcid.org/ 0000-0003-4336-572- 2 https://orcid.org/ 0000-0001-7773-3796 *Corresponding author: e-mail: sadiqsanusi30@gmail.com Article Info Abstract: The present research determined the livelihood strategy of rice processors in Nigeria’s Jigawa State using a cross-sectional data collected from 200 rice processors (par-boilers and milers) in the year 2022 through a multi-stage sampling technique. Using an easy-route cost approach, data were collected through a structured questionnaire complemented with an interviews schedule. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to synthesis the data. From the empirical findings, it was established that high poverty incidence permeates the actors engaged in processing along the rice value chain. Besides, most of the processors were multidimensional deprived in more than 50% of the total deprivation. Further, food insecurity was of high concern among the par-boilers unlike the millers were almost half of the sampled population were food secured. Nevertheless, most of the processors adopted survival strategy to stay afloat in livelihood sustenance given the poor access of majority to livelihood capital assets. A further investigation revealed that the processors’ livelihood was challenged by a large vulnerable household size, thus exacerbate the pressure of household’s population on the available resources. Therefore, the study advise that the production credit should be supplemented with a consumption credit in order to enhance the productivity of the resources deployed by the processors in the rice value, thus enhancing their livelihoods and sustainability of the value chain. In addition, the processors need to be sensitized on the imperativeness of a sustainable household size for a better livelihood in the study area. Received: 29.06.2022 Accepted: 15.09.2022 Online published: 13.12.2022 Keywords Livelihood, Microfinance, Processors, Rice, Nigeria How To Cite: Sadiq, M.S. and Sani, B.S. (2022) Lıvelıhood Status of Paddy Rıce Agro-Processors that Benefıtted from Mıcrofınance Credıt in Jıgawa State of Nıgerıa, Bozok Journal of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, 1(2), 71-94. 1. Introduction Natural, economic, and political risks are on the rise, with severe implications for poverty and food security (d'Errico, 2016). Poverty, whether absolute or relative, has remained a hot topic in every