In 2018, Lesotho's annual estimated postharvest losses were 16,952 tonnes for maize, 4,708 tonnes for sorghum, 875 tonnes for wheat. The highest and lowest estimated postharvest loss percentages are 15.4% for maize and 11.7% for sorghum.
Within the value chain, for all crops the majority of loss is estimated to be happening at harvesting/field drying. Within Lesotho, the highest postharvest losses in tonnes occur for maize in Berea, for sorghum in Maseru, for wheat in Mokhotlong. Regarding the nutritional losses, the estimated maize grain lost postharvest could have met the annual energy (kcal) dietary requirements of 68,018 people.
To view the list of studies used to estimate these losses, please see the References tab.
Top 3 crops with the highest production quantity in tonnes.
| Maize | Sorghum | Wheat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Production quantity in tonnes | 109,911 tonnes | 40,335 tonnes | 7,052 tonnes |
| Loss % | 15.4% | 11.7% | 12.4% |
| Losses in tonnes | 16,952 tonnes | 4,708 tonnes | 875 tonnes |
| Financial value | – | – | – |
| % of national agricultural GDP | – | – | – |
| # of people whose annual energy (kcal) requirements could have been met by the lost crop | 68,018 people | 19,872 people | 3,348 people |
See full postharvest losses data tables with loss percentage › | losses in tonnes › | nutritional losses ›
See full value chain data table with estimated losses in percentage › | tonnes › | USD ›