Zambia's estimated postharvest losses in tonnes for maize ranged from 99,358 tonnes in 2002 to 616,549 tonnes in 2017. The estimated loss percentages fluctuated between 16.2% and 17.2%. The largest losses in USD were estimated to have occurred in 2014 with a value of over 159 million USD, equivalent to 8.7% of national agricultural GDP.
Within the value chain, the majority of the postharvest maize loss is estimated to be happening at Harvesting/field drying. In Zambia, on average the highest quantity of maize production occurs in Central. Regarding nutritional losses, the number of people whose annual energy (kcal) dietary requirements could have been met with the estimated maize lost postharvest ranged from 416,540 people in 2002 to 2,584,760 people in 2017.
To view the list of studies used to estimate these losses, please see the References tab.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production quantity in tonnes | 2,394,908 tonnes | 2,122,644 tonnes | 2,122,644 tonnes | 2,122,644 tonnes | 2,122,644 tonnes |
| Losses in tonnes | 411,007 tonnes | 359,519 tonnes | 359,519 tonnes | 359,519 tonnes | 359,519 tonnes |
| Loss % | 17.2% | 16.9% | 16.9% | 16.9% | 16.9% |
| Financial value | > 73 million USD | > 87 million USD | > 78 million USD | – | – |
| % of national agricultural GDP | 8.3% | 13.1% | – | – | – |
| # of people whose annual energy (kcal) requirements could have been met by the lost crop | 1,723,065 people | 1,507,212 people | 1,507,212 people | 1,507,212 people | 1,507,212 people |
See full postharvest losses data tables with loss percentage › | losses in tonnes › | losses in USD › | financial impact › | nutritional losses ›