Lesotho, All cereals, 2021

In 2021, Lesotho's annual estimated postharvest losses were 11,516 tonnes for maize, 1,612 tonnes for sorghum, 947 tonnes for wheat. The highest and lowest estimated postharvest loss percentages are 15.4% for maize and 11.5% 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 Leribe, 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 46,209 people.

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

APHLIS postharvest loss estimates in Lesotho in 2021

Top 3 crops with the highest production quantity in tonnes.

Maize Sorghum Wheat
Production quantity in tonnes 74,707 tonnes 14,022 tonnes 7,898 tonnes
Loss % 15.4% 11.5% 12.0%
Losses in tonnes 11,516 tonnes 1,612 tonnes 947 tonnes
Financial value – – –
% of national agricultural GDP – – –
# of people whose annual energy (kcal) requirements could have been met by the lost crop 46,209 people 6,805 people 3,626 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 88.00 Crop left: 88.00% 1.7 Estimated PHL: 1.7%
Wheat 87.44 Crop left: 87.44% 2.1 Estimated PHL: 2.1%
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 88.00 Crop left: 88.00% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Wheat 87.44 Crop left: 87.44% 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 88.00 Crop left: 88.00% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Wheat 87.44 Crop left: 87.44% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%

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