Lesotho, Maize, 2020

Lesotho's estimated postharvest losses for maize in 2020 was 3,868 tonnes or 15.4%.

As for nutrition 13 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 15 thousand 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 Market storage. Highest estimated postharvest maize losses in tonnes were estimated to occur in Mafeteng.

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 70311
2012 42470
2013 86324
2014 90073
2015 65637
2016 19182
2017 172666
2018 109911
2019 24620
2020 25160
Produced 25,160 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 15.4% / 3,868 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
84.6252 Production quantity: 25,160 tonnes 15.4 Estimated PHL: 3,868 tonnes

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

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 85.84333 Remaining: 85.84333%
Est. PHL: 2.41667%
2.41667 Remaining: 85.84333%
Est. PHL: 2.41667%
Household-level storage 83.71139 Remaining: 83.71139%
Est. PHL: 2.13194%
2.13194 Remaining: 83.71139%
Est. PHL: 2.13194%
Transport to market 82.06139 Remaining: 82.06139%
Est. PHL: 1.65%
1.65 Remaining: 82.06139%
Est. PHL: 1.65%
Market storage 79.41139 Remaining: 79.41139%
Est. PHL: 2.65%
2.65 Remaining: 79.41139%
Est. PHL: 2.65%

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

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

15,521

people, 0.7%


Children 1-3

37,297

children, 21.4%


Pregnant women 19-30

13,500

women, 162.1%


Men 31-50

11,952

men, 5.1%

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