Ethiopia, Maize, 2006

Ethiopia's estimated postharvest losses for maize in 2006 was 737,550 tonnes or 16.4% which had an estimated value of more than 124 million US dollar, which corresponds to 1.9% of national agricultural GDP.

As for nutrition 2,669 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 3 million people, in terms of annual nutritional dietary energy requirements. In the value chain, the majority of the loss is estimated to be happening at Harvesting/field drying, Further drying, and then Household-level storage. Highest estimated postharvest maize losses in tonnes were estimated to occur in Oromia.

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

Production quantity and estimated postharvest losses

  • Production quantity (tonnes)
  • Estimated postharvest losses (tonnes)
2011–2021
2011 5481404
2012 6432601
2013 6559890
2014 7105706
2015 7631365
2016 8211426
2017 8806174
2018 9391634
2019 6317174
2020 6317174
Produced 4,509,440 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 16.4% / 737,550 tonnes / > 124 million USD
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
83.6443 Production quantity: 4,509,440 tonnes 16.4 Estimated PHL: 737,550 tonnes

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

Value chain

Production quantity and estimated postharvest losses in % per value chain step. Please note that once loss has occurred at harvesting, the percentage loss in the next stage is a percentage of what remained, not of the original amount.

  • Estimated % of crop left
  • Estimated % of crop lost
Amount remaining(%) Estimated postharvest loss(%)
Production 100 Remaining: 100%
Est. PHL: 0%
0 Remaining: 100%
Est. PHL: 0%
Harvesting/field drying 93.58 Remaining: 93.58%
Est. PHL: 6.42%
6.42 Remaining: 93.58%
Est. PHL: 6.42%
Further drying 89.58 Remaining: 89.58%
Est. PHL: 4%
4 Remaining: 89.58%
Est. PHL: 4%
Threshing and Shelling 88.26 Remaining: 88.26%
Est. PHL: 1.32%
1.32 Remaining: 88.26%
Est. PHL: 1.32%
Transport from field 85.88954 Remaining: 85.88954%
Est. PHL: 2.37046%
2.37046 Remaining: 85.88954%
Est. PHL: 2.37046%
Household-level storage 82.62082 Remaining: 82.62082%
Est. PHL: 3.26872%
3.26872 Remaining: 82.62082%
Est. PHL: 3.26872%
Transport to market 80.97082 Remaining: 80.97082%
Est. PHL: 1.65%
1.65 Remaining: 80.97082%
Est. PHL: 1.65%
Market storage 78.32082 Remaining: 78.32082%
Est. PHL: 2.65%
2.65 Remaining: 78.32082%
Est. PHL: 2.65%

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

Nutrition

Number of people whose annual dietary requirements (in terms of energy, kcal) could have been met by consuming the maize that was lost postharvest, and what % of the focal group of the population this number equates to.

Total number

3,141,898

people, 2.9%


Children 1-3

7,418,741

children, 79.8%


Pregnant women 19-30

2,685,345

women, 279.6%


Men 31-50

2,377,276

men, 23.5%

See full nutritional impact data for Children 1–3 › | Pregnant women 19–30 › | Men 31–50 ›