Namibia, All cereals, 2021

In 2021, Namibia's annual estimated postharvest losses were 9,097 tonnes for maize, 583 tonnes for millet, 1 tonnes for sorghum. The highest and lowest estimated postharvest loss percentages are 15.7% for maize and 4.2% for millet. The costliest estimated postharvest losses in USD are for millet: over 708 thousand USD.

Within the value chain the majority of loss is estimated to be happening at harvesting/field drying for maize, at transport from field for millet, at harvesting/field drying for sorghum. Within Namibia, the highest postharvest losses in tonnes occur for maize in Kavango, for millet in Otjozondjupa, for sorghum in Ohangwena. Regarding the nutritional losses, the estimated maize grain lost postharvest could have met the annual energy (kcal) dietary requirements of 36,743 people.

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

APHLIS postharvest loss estimates in Namibia in 2021

Top 3 crops with the highest production quantity in tonnes.

Maize Millet Sorghum
Production quantity in tonnes 58,108 tonnes 13,718 tonnes 25 tonnes
Loss % 15.7% 4.2% 5.0%
Losses in tonnes 9,097 tonnes 583 tonnes 1 tonnes
Financial value – > 708 thousand USD > 2 thousand USD
% of national agricultural GDP – – –
# of people whose annual energy (kcal) requirements could have been met by the lost crop 36,743 people – 5 people

See full postharvest losses data tables with loss percentage › | losses in tonnes › | losses in USD › | 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 94.91 Crop left: 94.91% 5.1 Estimated PHL: 5.1%
Millet 98.00 Crop left: 98.00% 2.0 Estimated PHL: 2.0%
Sorghum 97.25 Crop left: 97.25% 2.8 Estimated PHL: 2.8%
Further drying
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 91.16 Crop left: 91.16% 3.7 Estimated PHL: 3.7%
Millet 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Sorghum 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 89.37 Crop left: 89.37% 1.8 Estimated PHL: 1.8%
Millet 96.00 Crop left: 96.00% 2.0 Estimated PHL: 2.0%
Sorghum 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Winnowing
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Millet 96.00 Crop left: 96.00% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Sorghum 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Transport from field
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 87.21 Crop left: 87.21% 2.2 Estimated PHL: 2.2%
Millet 93.50 Crop left: 93.50% 2.5 Estimated PHL: 2.5%
Sorghum 0 No data for this crop 0 No data for this crop
Household-level storage
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 83.05 Crop left: 83.05% 4.2 Estimated PHL: 4.2%
Millet 93.00 Crop left: 93.00% 0.5 Estimated PHL: 0.5%
Sorghum 97.25 Crop left: 97.25% 0.0 Estimated PHL: 0.0%
Transport to market
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 81.93 Crop left: 81.93% 1.1 Estimated PHL: 1.1%
Millet 92.00 Crop left: 92.00% 1.0 Estimated PHL: 1.0%
Sorghum 96.25 Crop left: 96.25% 1.0 Estimated PHL: 1.0%
Market storage
Crop Estimated % of crop left Estimated % of crop lost
Maize 79.28 Crop left: 79.28% 2.7 Estimated PHL: 2.7%
Millet 90.70 Crop left: 90.70% 1.3 Estimated PHL: 1.3%
Sorghum 94.95 Crop left: 94.95% 1.3 Estimated PHL: 1.3%

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