Malawi's estimated postharvest losses in tonnes for maize ranged from 255,903 tonnes in 2005 to 783,419 tonnes in 2021. The estimated loss percentages fluctuated between 16.5% and 19.7%. The largest losses in USD were estimated to have occurred in 2009 with a value of over 253 million USD, equivalent to 13.5% of national agricultural GDP.
Within the value chain, the majority of the postharvest maize loss is estimated to be happening at Household-level storage. In Malawi, on average the highest quantity of maize production occurs in Central Region. Regarding nutritional losses, the number of people whose annual energy (kcal) dietary requirements could have been met with the estimated maize lost postharvest ranged from 1,066,846 people in 2005 to 3,266,036 people in 2021.
To view the list of studies used to estimate these losses, please see the References tab.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production quantity in tonnes | 2,697,959 tonnes | 3,391,924 tonnes | 3,785,713 tonnes | 4,581,524 tonnes | 3,716,479 tonnes |
| Losses in tonnes | 515,697 tonnes | 647,796 tonnes | 725,122 tonnes | 783,419 tonnes | 632,860 tonnes |
| Loss % | 19.1% | 19.1% | 19.2% | 17.1% | 17.0% |
| Financial value | > 94 million USD | > 175 million USD | > 204 million USD | > 142 million USD | – |
| % of national agricultural GDP | 5.2% | 9.0% | – | – | – |
| # of people whose annual energy (kcal) requirements could have been met by the lost crop | 2,149,916 people | 2,700,630 people | 3,022,997 people | 3,266,036 people | 2,638,361 people |
See full postharvest losses data tables with loss percentage › | losses in tonnes › | losses in USD › | financial impact › | nutritional losses ›