Malawi, Wheat, 2008

Malawi's estimated postharvest losses for wheat in 2008 was 284 tonnes or 11.4%.

As for nutrition 940 million kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 1 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 Transport from field. 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 1850
2012 1901
2013 1562
2014 1160
2015 1178
2016 797
2017 745
2018 729
2019 716
2020 698
Produced 2,491 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 11.4% / 284 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
88.5921 Production quantity: 2,491 tonnes 11.4 Estimated PHL: 284 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 95.66924 Remaining: 95.66924%
Est. PHL: 4.33076%
4.33076 Remaining: 95.66924%
Est. PHL: 4.33076%
Threshing and Shelling 92.16924 Remaining: 92.16924%
Est. PHL: 3.5%
3.5 Remaining: 92.16924%
Est. PHL: 3.5%
Winnowing 92.16924 Remaining: 92.16924%
Est. PHL: 0%
0 Remaining: 92.16924%
Est. PHL: 0%
Transport from field 89.66924 Remaining: 89.66924%
Est. PHL: 2.5%
2.5 Remaining: 89.66924%
Est. PHL: 2.5%
Household-level storage 88.5099 Remaining: 88.5099%
Est. PHL: 1.15934%
1.15934 Remaining: 88.5099%
Est. PHL: 1.15934%
Transport to market 87.5099 Remaining: 87.5099%
Est. PHL: 1%
1 Remaining: 87.5099%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 85.06387 Remaining: 85.06387%
Est. PHL: 2.44603%
2.44603 Remaining: 85.06387%
Est. PHL: 2.44603%

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 wheat that was lost postharvest, and what % of the focal group of the population this number equates to.

Total number

1,130

people, 0.0%


Children 1-3

2,614

children, 0.1%


Pregnant women 19-30

946

women, 1.0%


Men 31-50

838

men, 0.0%

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