Lesotho, All cereals, 2019

In 2019, Lesotho's annual estimated postharvest losses were 3,809 tonnes for maize, 973 tonnes for sorghum, 213 tonnes for wheat. The highest and lowest estimated postharvest loss percentages are 15.5% for maize and 11.6% 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 Leribe, for wheat in Mokhotlong. Regarding the nutritional losses, the estimated maize grain lost postharvest could have met the annual energy (kcal) dietary requirements of 15,282 people.

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

APHLIS postharvest loss estimates in Lesotho in 2019

Top 3 crops with the highest production quantity in tonnes.

Maize Sorghum Wheat
Production quantity in tonnes 24,620 tonnes 8,411 tonnes 1,783 tonnes
Loss % 15.5% 11.6% 11.9%
Losses in tonnes 3,809 tonnes 973 tonnes 213 tonnes
Financial value – – –
% of national agricultural GDP – – –
# of people whose annual energy (kcal) requirements could have been met by the lost crop 15,282 people 4,106 people 814 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
Maize 93.58 Crop left: 93.58% 6.4 Estimated PHL: 6.4%
Sorghum 95.45 Crop left: 95.45% 4.6 Estimated PHL: 4.6%
Wheat 95.57 Crop left: 95.57% 4.4 Estimated PHL: 4.4%
Further drying
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 89.58 Crop left: 89.58% 4.0 Estimated PHL: 4.0%
Sorghum 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Wheat 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Threshing and Shelling
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 88.26 Crop left: 88.26% 1.3 Estimated PHL: 1.3%
Sorghum 91.85 Crop left: 91.85% 3.6 Estimated PHL: 3.6%
Wheat 92.07 Crop left: 92.07% 3.5 Estimated PHL: 3.5%
Winnowing
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Sorghum 91.85 Crop left: 91.85% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Wheat 92.07 Crop left: 92.07% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Transport from field
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 85.84 Crop left: 85.84% 2.4 Estimated PHL: 2.4%
Sorghum 89.68 Crop left: 89.68% 2.2 Estimated PHL: 2.2%
Wheat 89.57 Crop left: 89.57% 2.5 Estimated PHL: 2.5%
Household-level storage
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 83.64 Crop left: 83.64% 2.2 Estimated PHL: 2.2%
Sorghum 87.92 Crop left: 87.92% 1.8 Estimated PHL: 1.8%
Wheat 87.52 Crop left: 87.52% 2.0 Estimated PHL: 2.0%
Transport to market
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 81.99 Crop left: 81.99% 1.7 Estimated PHL: 1.7%
Sorghum 87.92 Crop left: 87.92% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Wheat 87.52 Crop left: 87.52% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Market storage
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 79.34 Crop left: 79.34% 2.7 Estimated PHL: 2.7%
Sorghum 87.92 Crop left: 87.92% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Wheat 87.52 Crop left: 87.52% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%

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