Lesotho, Sorghum, 2019

Lesotho's estimated postharvest losses for sorghum in 2019 was 973 tonnes or 11.6%.

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, Threshing and Shelling, and then Transport from field. Highest estimated postharvest maize losses in tonnes were estimated to occur in Leribe.

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 12600
2012 4674
2013 20406
2014 9844
2015 9528
2016 1159
2017 33857
2018 40335
2019 8411
2020 4255
Produced 8,411 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 11.6% / 973 tonnes
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
88.4329 Production quantity: 8,411 tonnes 11.6 Estimated PHL: 973 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 95.45 Remaining: 95.45%
Est. PHL: 4.55%
4.55 Remaining: 95.45%
Est. PHL: 4.55%
Threshing and Shelling 91.85 Remaining: 91.85%
Est. PHL: 3.6%
3.6 Remaining: 91.85%
Est. PHL: 3.6%
Winnowing 91.85 Remaining: 91.85%
Est. PHL: 0%
0 Remaining: 91.85%
Est. PHL: 0%
Transport from field 89.68333 Remaining: 89.68333%
Est. PHL: 2.16667%
2.16667 Remaining: 89.68333%
Est. PHL: 2.16667%
Household-level storage 87.92009 Remaining: 87.92009%
Est. PHL: 1.76324%
1.76324 Remaining: 87.92009%
Est. PHL: 1.76324%
Transport to market 87.92009 Remaining: 87.92009%
Est. PHL: 0%
0 Remaining: 87.92009%
Est. PHL: 0%
Market storage 87.92009 Remaining: 87.92009%
Est. PHL: 0%
0 Remaining: 87.92009%
Est. PHL: 0%

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

4,106

people, 0.2%


Children 1-3

9,867

children, 5.7%


Pregnant women 19-30

3,572

women, 42.9%


Men 31-50

3,162

men, 1.4%

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