Malawi, Rice, 2008

Malawi's estimated postharvest losses for rice in 2008 was 14,579 tonnes or 12.7% which had an estimated value of more than 15 million US dollar, which corresponds to 1.0% of national agricultural GDP.

As for nutrition 50 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 60 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 Market storage. Highest estimated postharvest maize losses in tonnes were estimated to occur in Southern Region.

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 117733
2012 110405
2013 122261
2014 132002
2015 111437
2016 83757
2017 121079
2018 112313
2019 132728
2020 142592
Produced 114,905 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 12.7% / 14,579 tonnes / > 15 million USD
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
87.312 Production quantity: 114,905 tonnes 12.7 Estimated PHL: 14,579 tonnes

See full postharvest losses data table with estimated losses in percentage › | tonnes › | USD ›

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 95.59667 Remaining: 95.59667%
Est. PHL: 4.40333%
4.40333 Remaining: 95.59667%
Est. PHL: 4.40333%
Threshing and Shelling 92.45953 Remaining: 92.45953%
Est. PHL: 3.13714%
3.13714 Remaining: 92.45953%
Est. PHL: 3.13714%
Winnowing 89.95953 Remaining: 89.95953%
Est. PHL: 2.5%
2.5 Remaining: 89.95953%
Est. PHL: 2.5%
Transport from field 88.70953 Remaining: 88.70953%
Est. PHL: 1.25%
1.25 Remaining: 88.70953%
Est. PHL: 1.25%
Household-level storage 88.20715 Remaining: 88.20715%
Est. PHL: 0.50238%
0.50238 Remaining: 88.20715%
Est. PHL: 0.50238%
Transport to market 87.20715 Remaining: 87.20715%
Est. PHL: 1%
1 Remaining: 87.20715%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 84.55715 Remaining: 84.55715%
Est. PHL: 2.65%
2.65 Remaining: 84.55715%
Est. PHL: 2.65%

See full value chain data table with estimated losses in percentage › | tonnes › | USD ›

Nutrition

Number of people whose annual dietary requirements (in terms of energy, kcal) could have been met by consuming the rice that was lost postharvest, and what % of the focal group of the population this number equates to.

Total number

60,780

people, 0.3%


Children 1-3

140,569

children, 7.7%


Pregnant women 19-30

50,882

women, 54.7%


Men 31-50

45,044

men, 2.6%

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