Lesotho, All cereals, 2020

In 2020, Lesotho's annual estimated postharvest losses were 3,868 tonnes for maize, 481 tonnes for sorghum, 235 tonnes for wheat. The highest and lowest estimated postharvest loss percentages are 15.4% for maize and 10.5% for wheat.

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 Mafeteng, for sorghum in Berea, for wheat in Leribe. Regarding the nutritional losses, the estimated maize grain lost postharvest could have met the annual energy (kcal) dietary requirements of 15,521 people.

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

APHLIS postharvest loss estimates in Lesotho in 2020

Top 3 crops with the highest production quantity in tonnes.

Maize Sorghum Wheat
Production quantity in tonnes 25,160 tonnes 4,255 tonnes 2,233 tonnes
Loss % 15.4% 11.3% 10.5%
Losses in tonnes 3,868 tonnes 481 tonnes 235 tonnes
Financial value – – –
% of national agricultural GDP – – –
# of people whose annual energy (kcal) requirements could have been met by the lost crop 15,521 people 2,032 people 898 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 83.71 Crop left: 83.71% 2.1 Estimated PHL: 2.1%
Sorghum 88.20 Crop left: 88.20% 1.5 Estimated PHL: 1.5%
Wheat 89.10 Crop left: 89.10% 0.5 Estimated PHL: 0.5%
Transport to market
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 82.06 Crop left: 82.06% 1.7 Estimated PHL: 1.7%
Sorghum 88.20 Crop left: 88.20% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Wheat 89.10 Crop left: 89.10% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Market storage
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 79.41 Crop left: 79.41% 2.7 Estimated PHL: 2.7%
Sorghum 88.20 Crop left: 88.20% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Wheat 89.10 Crop left: 89.10% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%

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