South Africa, Wheat, 2009

South Africa's estimated postharvest losses for wheat in 2009 was 318 tonnes or 16.3% which had an estimated value of more than 92 thousand US dollar, which corresponds to 0.0% of national agricultural GDP.

As for nutrition 1 billion 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, Household-level storage, and then Market storage. Highest estimated postharvest maize losses in tonnes were estimated to occur in Western Cape.

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 1915310
2013 1804450
2014 267392
2015 267392
2016 267392
2017 267392
2018 267392
2019 267392
2020 267392
Produced 1,958 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 16.3% / 318 tonnes / > 92 thousand USD
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
83.735 Production quantity: 1,958 tonnes 16.3 Estimated PHL: 318 tonnes

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.

  • 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 85.723 Remaining: 85.723%
Est. PHL: 14.277%
14.277 Remaining: 85.723%
Est. PHL: 14.277%
Household-level storage 81.39851 Remaining: 81.39851%
Est. PHL: 4.32449%
4.32449 Remaining: 81.39851%
Est. PHL: 4.32449%
Transport to market 80.39851 Remaining: 80.39851%
Est. PHL: 1%
1 Remaining: 80.39851%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 79.09851 Remaining: 79.09851%
Est. PHL: 1.3%
1.3 Remaining: 79.09851%
Est. PHL: 1.3%

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

Total number

1,179

people, 0.0%


Children 1-3

2,929

children, 0.1%


Pregnant women 19-30

1,060

women, 0.5%


Men 31-50

939

men, 0.0%

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