Zambia, Sorghum, 2004

Zambia's estimated postharvest losses for sorghum in 2004 was 3,157 tonnes or 12.9%.

As for nutrition 11 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 13 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 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 24,489 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 12.9% / 3,157 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
87.1079 Production quantity: 24,489 tonnes 12.9 Estimated PHL: 3,157 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 95.52938 Remaining: 95.52938%
Est. PHL: 4.47062% 		4.47062 Remaining: 95.52938%
Est. PHL: 4.47062%
Threshing and Shelling 91.92938 Remaining: 91.92938%
Est. PHL: 3.6% 		3.6 Remaining: 91.92938%
Est. PHL: 3.6%
Winnowing 91.92938 Remaining: 91.92938%
Est. PHL: 0% 		0 Remaining: 91.92938%
Est. PHL: 0%
Transport from field 89.76271 Remaining: 89.76271%
Est. PHL: 2.16667% 		2.16667 Remaining: 89.76271%
Est. PHL: 2.16667%
Household-level storage 86.15383 Remaining: 86.15383%
Est. PHL: 3.60888% 		3.60888 Remaining: 86.15383%
Est. PHL: 3.60888%
Transport to market 85.15383 Remaining: 85.15383%
Est. PHL: 1% 		1 Remaining: 85.15383%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 82.79834 Remaining: 82.79834%
Est. PHL: 2.35549% 		2.35549 Remaining: 82.79834%
Est. PHL: 2.35549%

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

13,922

people, 0.1%

Children 1-3

32,020

children, 1.8%

Pregnant women 19-30

11,590

women, 10.5%

Men 31-50

10,260

men, 0.6%

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