Malawi, Sorghum, 2004

Malawi's estimated postharvest losses for sorghum in 2004 was 5,093 tonnes or 12.5%.

As for nutrition 18 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 22 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, Threshing and Shelling, and then Household-level storage. Highest estimated postharvest maize losses in tonnes were estimated to occur in Southern Region.

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 73330
2012 68171
2013 82254
2014 93187
2015 79327
2016 58192
2017 90370
2018 82852
2019 133212
2020 128731
Produced 40,905 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 12.5% / 5,093 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
87.5494 Production quantity: 40,905 tonnes 12.5 Estimated PHL: 5,093 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 95.45 Remaining: 95.45%
Est. PHL: 4.55% 		4.55 Remaining: 95.45%
Est. PHL: 4.55%
Threshing and Shelling 91.85 Remaining: 91.85%
Est. PHL: 3.6% 		3.6 Remaining: 91.85%
Est. PHL: 3.6%
Winnowing 91.85 Remaining: 91.85%
Est. PHL: 0% 		0 Remaining: 91.85%
Est. PHL: 0%
Transport from field 89.68333 Remaining: 89.68333%
Est. PHL: 2.16667% 		2.16667 Remaining: 89.68333%
Est. PHL: 2.16667%
Household-level storage 86.97138 Remaining: 86.97138%
Est. PHL: 2.71195% 		2.71195 Remaining: 86.97138%
Est. PHL: 2.71195%
Transport to market 85.97138 Remaining: 85.97138%
Est. PHL: 1% 		1 Remaining: 85.97138%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 83.32138 Remaining: 83.32138%
Est. PHL: 2.65% 		2.65 Remaining: 83.32138%
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 sorghum that was lost postharvest, and what % of the focal group of the population this number equates to.

Total number

22,333

people, 0.1%

Children 1-3

51,652

children, 2.8%

Pregnant women 19-30

18,696

women, 20.1%

Men 31-50

16,552

men, 1.0%

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