Zambia, Sorghum, 2003

Zambia's estimated postharvest losses for sorghum in 2003 was 2,624 tonnes or 12.9%.

As for nutrition 9 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 11 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 Threshing and Shelling. Highest estimated postharvest maize losses in tonnes were estimated to occur in North-Western.

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 18794
2012 15756
2013 15329
2014 11583
2015 8124
2016 14212
2017 17691
2018 13590
2019 19665
2020 19665
Produced 20,323 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 12.9% / 2,624 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
87.0864 Production quantity: 20,323 tonnes 12.9 Estimated PHL: 2,624 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 95.55513 Remaining: 95.55513%
Est. PHL: 4.44487% 		4.44487 Remaining: 95.55513%
Est. PHL: 4.44487%
Threshing and Shelling 91.95513 Remaining: 91.95513%
Est. PHL: 3.6% 		3.6 Remaining: 91.95513%
Est. PHL: 3.6%
Winnowing 91.95513 Remaining: 91.95513%
Est. PHL: 0% 		0 Remaining: 91.95513%
Est. PHL: 0%
Transport from field 89.78846 Remaining: 89.78846%
Est. PHL: 2.16667% 		2.16667 Remaining: 89.78846%
Est. PHL: 2.16667%
Household-level storage 86.01529 Remaining: 86.01529%
Est. PHL: 3.77317% 		3.77317 Remaining: 86.01529%
Est. PHL: 3.77317%
Transport to market 85.01529 Remaining: 85.01529%
Est. PHL: 1% 		1 Remaining: 85.01529%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 82.70566 Remaining: 82.70566%
Est. PHL: 2.30963% 		2.30963 Remaining: 82.70566%
Est. PHL: 2.30963%

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

Total number

11,573

people, 0.1%

Children 1-3

26,617

children, 1.5%

Pregnant women 19-30

9,634

women, 8.7%

Men 31-50

8,529

men, 0.5%

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