Botswana, All cereals, 2020

In 2020, Botswana's annual estimated postharvest losses were 1,659 tonnes for sorghum, 2,685 tonnes for maize, 136 tonnes for millet. The highest and lowest estimated postharvest loss percentages are 15.5% for maize and 6.6% 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 Southern, for millet in Central. Regarding the nutritional losses, the estimated maize grain lost postharvest could have met the annual energy (kcal) dietary requirements of 10,533 people.

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

APHLIS postharvest loss estimates in Botswana in 2020

Top 3 crops with the highest production quantity in tonnes.

Sorghum Maize Millet
Production quantity in tonnes 25,051 tonnes 17,377 tonnes 1,724 tonnes
Loss % 6.6% 15.5% 7.9%
Losses in tonnes 1,659 tonnes 2,685 tonnes 136 tonnes
Financial value – – –
% of national agricultural GDP – – –
# of people whose annual energy (kcal) requirements could have been met by the lost crop 6,843 people 10,533 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 96.80 Crop left: 96.80% 3.2 Estimated PHL: 3.2%
Maize 94.66 Crop left: 94.66% 5.3 Estimated PHL: 5.3%
Millet 96.74 Crop left: 96.74% 3.3 Estimated PHL: 3.3%
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 90.87 Crop left: 90.87% 3.8 Estimated PHL: 3.8%
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 93.20 Crop left: 93.20% 3.6 Estimated PHL: 3.6%
Maize 89.16 Crop left: 89.16% 1.7 Estimated PHL: 1.7%
Millet 94.74 Crop left: 94.74% 2.0 Estimated PHL: 2.0%
Winnowing
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 93.20 Crop left: 93.20% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Maize 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Millet 94.74 Crop left: 94.74% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Transport from field
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 91.03 Crop left: 91.03% 2.2 Estimated PHL: 2.2%
Maize 86.96 Crop left: 86.96% 2.2 Estimated PHL: 2.2%
Millet 92.24 Crop left: 92.24% 2.5 Estimated PHL: 2.5%
Household-level storage
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 89.66 Crop left: 89.66% 1.4 Estimated PHL: 1.4%
Maize 84.38 Crop left: 84.38% 2.6 Estimated PHL: 2.6%
Millet 91.76 Crop left: 91.76% 0.5 Estimated PHL: 0.5%
Transport to market
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 88.66 Crop left: 88.66% 1.0 Estimated PHL: 1.0%
Maize 83.13 Crop left: 83.13% 1.2 Estimated PHL: 1.2%
Millet 90.76 Crop left: 90.76% 1.0 Estimated PHL: 1.0%
Market storage
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Sorghum 87.29 Crop left: 87.29% 1.4 Estimated PHL: 1.4%
Maize 80.48 Crop left: 80.48% 2.7 Estimated PHL: 2.7%
Millet 88.98 Crop left: 88.98% 1.8 Estimated PHL: 1.8%

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