Zambia, Sorghum, 2020

Zambia's estimated postharvest losses for sorghum in 2020 was 2,542 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 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 19,665 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 12.9% / 2,542 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
87.0739 Production quantity: 19,665 tonnes 12.9 Estimated PHL: 2,542 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 95.556 Remaining: 95.556%
Est. PHL: 4.444% 		4.444 Remaining: 95.556%
Est. PHL: 4.444%
Threshing and Shelling 91.956 Remaining: 91.956%
Est. PHL: 3.6% 		3.6 Remaining: 91.956%
Est. PHL: 3.6%
Winnowing 91.956 Remaining: 91.956%
Est. PHL: 0% 		0 Remaining: 91.956%
Est. PHL: 0%
Transport from field 89.78933 Remaining: 89.78933%
Est. PHL: 2.16667% 		2.16667 Remaining: 89.78933%
Est. PHL: 2.16667%
Household-level storage 86.0387 Remaining: 86.0387%
Est. PHL: 3.75063% 		3.75063 Remaining: 86.0387%
Est. PHL: 3.75063%
Transport to market 85.0387 Remaining: 85.0387%
Est. PHL: 1% 		1 Remaining: 85.0387%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 82.39814 Remaining: 82.39814%
Est. PHL: 2.64056% 		2.64056 Remaining: 82.39814%
Est. PHL: 2.64056%

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

11,209

people, 0.1%

Children 1-3

25,780

children, 1.5%

Pregnant women 19-30

9,332

women, 8.4%

Men 31-50

8,261

men, 0.5%

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