South Africa, Maize, 2013

South Africa's estimated postharvest losses for maize in 2013 was 1,781,021 tonnes or 14.3% which had an estimated value of more than 424 million US dollar, which corresponds to 5.5% of national agricultural GDP.

As for nutrition 6,180 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 6 million 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, Household-level storage, and then Further drying. Highest estimated postharvest maize losses in tonnes were estimated to occur in Free State.

Production quantity and estimated postharvest losses

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

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.

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

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.

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