Zambia, Sorghum, 2010

Zambia's estimated postharvest losses for sorghum in 2010 was 3,531 tonnes or 12.6%.

As for nutrition 12 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 15 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 Southern.

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 28,071 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 12.6% / 3,531 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
87.4199 Production quantity: 28,071 tonnes 12.6 Estimated PHL: 3,531 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 95.61775 Remaining: 95.61775%
Est. PHL: 4.38225% 		4.38225 Remaining: 95.61775%
Est. PHL: 4.38225%
Threshing and Shelling 92.01775 Remaining: 92.01775%
Est. PHL: 3.6% 		3.6 Remaining: 92.01775%
Est. PHL: 3.6%
Winnowing 92.01775 Remaining: 92.01775%
Est. PHL: 0% 		0 Remaining: 92.01775%
Est. PHL: 0%
Transport from field 89.85108 Remaining: 89.85108%
Est. PHL: 2.16667% 		2.16667 Remaining: 89.85108%
Est. PHL: 2.16667%
Household-level storage 86.08172 Remaining: 86.08172%
Est. PHL: 3.76936% 		3.76936 Remaining: 86.08172%
Est. PHL: 3.76936%
Transport to market 85.08172 Remaining: 85.08172%
Est. PHL: 1% 		1 Remaining: 85.08172%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 82.88497 Remaining: 82.88497%
Est. PHL: 2.19675% 		2.19675 Remaining: 82.88497%
Est. PHL: 2.19675%

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

15,572

people, 0.1%

Children 1-3

35,815

children, 2.0%

Pregnant women 19-30

12,964

women, 11.7%

Men 31-50

11,477

men, 0.7%

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