Zambia, Sorghum, 2015

Zambia's estimated postharvest losses for sorghum in 2015 was 1,054 tonnes or 13.0%.

As for nutrition 3 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 4 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 8,124 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 13.0% / 1,054 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
87.0301 Production quantity: 8,124 tonnes 13.0 Estimated PHL: 1,054 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 95.54771 Remaining: 95.54771%
Est. PHL: 4.45229% 		4.45229 Remaining: 95.54771%
Est. PHL: 4.45229%
Threshing and Shelling 91.94771 Remaining: 91.94771%
Est. PHL: 3.6% 		3.6 Remaining: 91.94771%
Est. PHL: 3.6%
Winnowing 91.94771 Remaining: 91.94771%
Est. PHL: 0% 		0 Remaining: 91.94771%
Est. PHL: 0%
Transport from field 89.78104 Remaining: 89.78104%
Est. PHL: 2.16667% 		2.16667 Remaining: 89.78104%
Est. PHL: 2.16667%
Household-level storage 85.96314 Remaining: 85.96314%
Est. PHL: 3.8179% 		3.8179 Remaining: 85.96314%
Est. PHL: 3.8179%
Transport to market 84.96314 Remaining: 84.96314%
Est. PHL: 1% 		1 Remaining: 84.96314%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 82.58636 Remaining: 82.58636%
Est. PHL: 2.37678% 		2.37678 Remaining: 82.58636%
Est. PHL: 2.37678%

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

4,646

people, 0.0%

Children 1-3

10,686

children, 0.6%

Pregnant women 19-30

3,868

women, 3.5%

Men 31-50

3,424

men, 0.2%

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