Botswana, All cereals, 2019

In 2019, Botswana's annual estimated postharvest losses were 1,030 tonnes for sorghum, 1,168 tonnes for maize, 42 tonnes for millet. The highest and lowest estimated postharvest loss percentages are 14.5% for maize and 5.3% for sorghum.

Within the value chain the majority of loss is estimated to be happening at threshing and Shelling for sorghum, at harvesting/field drying for maize, at harvesting/field drying for millet. Within Botswana, the highest postharvest losses in tonnes occur for sorghum in Chobe, for maize in Kgalagadi, for millet in North East. Regarding the nutritional losses, the estimated maize grain lost postharvest could have met the annual energy (kcal) dietary requirements of 4,581 people.

To view the list of studies used to estimate these losses, please see the References tab.

APHLIS postharvest loss estimates in Botswana in 2019

Top 3 crops with the highest production quantity in tonnes.

Sorghum Maize Millet
Production quantity in tonnes 19,608 tonnes 8,077 tonnes 635 tonnes
Loss % 5.3% 14.5% 6.6%
Losses in tonnes 1,030 tonnes 1,168 tonnes 42 tonnes
Financial value – – –
% of national agricultural GDP – – –
# of people whose annual energy (kcal) requirements could have been met by the lost crop 4,251 people 4,581 people –

See full postharvest losses data tables with loss percentage › | losses in tonnes › | nutritional losses ›

Postharvest loss estimates per value chain step

  • Estimated % of crop left at this value chain stage
  • Estimated % of crop lost at this value chain stage
Harvesting/field drying
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 97.17 Crop left: 97.17% 2.8 Estimated PHL: 2.8%
Maize 95.90 Crop left: 95.90% 4.1 Estimated PHL: 4.1%
Millet 97.16 Crop left: 97.16% 2.8 Estimated PHL: 2.8%
Further drying
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Maize 92.34 Crop left: 92.34% 3.6 Estimated PHL: 3.6%
Millet 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Threshing and Shelling
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 93.57 Crop left: 93.57% 3.6 Estimated PHL: 3.6%
Maize 90.20 Crop left: 90.20% 2.1 Estimated PHL: 2.1%
Millet 95.16 Crop left: 95.16% 2.0 Estimated PHL: 2.0%
Winnowing
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 93.57 Crop left: 93.57% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Maize 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Millet 95.16 Crop left: 95.16% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Transport from field
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 91.41 Crop left: 91.41% 2.2 Estimated PHL: 2.2%
Maize 88.24 Crop left: 88.24% 2.0 Estimated PHL: 2.0%
Millet 92.66 Crop left: 92.66% 2.5 Estimated PHL: 2.5%
Household-level storage
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 89.81 Crop left: 89.81% 1.6 Estimated PHL: 1.6%
Maize 85.40 Crop left: 85.40% 2.8 Estimated PHL: 2.8%
Millet 92.22 Crop left: 92.22% 0.4 Estimated PHL: 0.4%
Transport to market
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 88.81 Crop left: 88.81% 1.0 Estimated PHL: 1.0%
Maize 84.37 Crop left: 84.37% 1.0 Estimated PHL: 1.0%
Millet 91.22 Crop left: 91.22% 1.0 Estimated PHL: 1.0%
Market storage
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 87.50 Crop left: 87.50% 1.3 Estimated PHL: 1.3%
Maize 81.72 Crop left: 81.72% 2.7 Estimated PHL: 2.7%
Millet 89.77 Crop left: 89.77% 1.5 Estimated PHL: 1.5%

See full value chain data table with estimated losses in percentage › | tonnes › | USD ›