Zambia, Sorghum, 2005

Zambia's estimated postharvest losses for sorghum in 2005 was 2,442 tonnes or 13.0%.

As for nutrition 8 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 10 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, Threshing and Shelling, and then Household-level storage. 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 18,740 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 13.0% / 2,442 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
86.9675 Production quantity: 18,740 tonnes 13.0 Estimated PHL: 2,442 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 95.48218 Remaining: 95.48218%
Est. PHL: 4.51782% 		4.51782 Remaining: 95.48218%
Est. PHL: 4.51782%
Threshing and Shelling 91.88218 Remaining: 91.88218%
Est. PHL: 3.6% 		3.6 Remaining: 91.88218%
Est. PHL: 3.6%
Winnowing 91.88218 Remaining: 91.88218%
Est. PHL: 0% 		0 Remaining: 91.88218%
Est. PHL: 0%
Transport from field 89.71551 Remaining: 89.71551%
Est. PHL: 2.16667% 		2.16667 Remaining: 89.71551%
Est. PHL: 2.16667%
Household-level storage 86.17398 Remaining: 86.17398%
Est. PHL: 3.54153% 		3.54153 Remaining: 86.17398%
Est. PHL: 3.54153%
Transport to market 85.17398 Remaining: 85.17398%
Est. PHL: 1% 		1 Remaining: 85.17398%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 82.70369 Remaining: 82.70369%
Est. PHL: 2.47029% 		2.47029 Remaining: 82.70369%
Est. PHL: 2.47029%

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

10,770

people, 0.1%

Children 1-3

24,770

children, 1.4%

Pregnant women 19-30

8,966

women, 8.1%

Men 31-50

7,937

men, 0.5%

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