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
5538017
2012
6231904
2013
4410246
2014
4410246
2015
4410246
2016
4410246
2017
4410246
2018
4410246
2019
4410246
2020
4410246
Produced
4,410,246 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses
17.9%
/ 789,762 tonnes
Production quantity
Estimated postharvest losses
82.0926Production quantity: 4,410,246 tonnes
17.9Estimated PHL: 789,762 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
100Remaining: 100% Est. PHL: 0%
0Remaining: 100% Est. PHL: 0%
Harvesting/field drying
93.58Remaining: 93.58% Est. PHL: 6.42%
6.42Remaining: 93.58% Est. PHL: 6.42%
Further drying
89.58Remaining: 89.58% Est. PHL: 4%
4Remaining: 89.58% Est. PHL: 4%
Threshing and Shelling
88.26Remaining: 88.26% Est. PHL: 1.32%
1.32Remaining: 88.26% Est. PHL: 1.32%
Transport from field
85.89635Remaining: 85.89635% Est. PHL: 2.36365%
2.36365Remaining: 85.89635% Est. PHL: 2.36365%
Household-level storage
80.74013Remaining: 80.74013% Est. PHL: 5.15622%
5.15622Remaining: 80.74013% Est. PHL: 5.15622%
Transport to market
80.74013Remaining: 80.74013% Est. PHL: 0%
0Remaining: 80.74013% Est. PHL: 0%
Market storage
80.74013Remaining: 80.74013% Est. PHL: 0%
0Remaining: 80.74013% 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 maize that was lost postharvest, and what % of the focal group of the population this number equates to.