South Africa, Maize, 2001

South Africa's estimated postharvest losses for maize in 2001 was 94,259 tonnes or 17.3% which had an estimated value of more than 10 million US dollar.

As for nutrition 327 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 365 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 Further drying. Highest estimated postharvest maize losses in tonnes were estimated to occur in Eastern Cape.

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 12531310
2012 2355586
2013 12427938
2014 2355586
2015 2355586
2016 2355586
2017 2355586
2018 2355586
2019 2355586
2020 2355586
Produced 545,394 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 17.3% / 94,259 tonnes / > 10 million USD
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
82.7172 Production quantity: 545,394 tonnes 17.3 Estimated PHL: 94,259 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 93.61627 Remaining: 93.61627%
Est. PHL: 6.38373%
6.38373 Remaining: 93.61627%
Est. PHL: 6.38373%
Further drying 89.62332 Remaining: 89.62332%
Est. PHL: 3.99295%
3.99295 Remaining: 89.62332%
Est. PHL: 3.99295%
Threshing and Shelling 88.29013 Remaining: 88.29013%
Est. PHL: 1.33319%
1.33319 Remaining: 88.29013%
Est. PHL: 1.33319%
Transport from field 85.88072 Remaining: 85.88072%
Est. PHL: 2.40941%
2.40941 Remaining: 85.88072%
Est. PHL: 2.40941%
Household-level storage 81.44876 Remaining: 81.44876%
Est. PHL: 4.43196%
4.43196 Remaining: 81.44876%
Est. PHL: 4.43196%
Transport to market 80.44876 Remaining: 80.44876%
Est. PHL: 1%
1 Remaining: 80.44876%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 77.79876 Remaining: 77.79876%
Est. PHL: 2.65%
2.65 Remaining: 77.79876%
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 maize that was lost postharvest, and what % of the focal group of the population this number equates to.

Total number

365,947

people, 0.6%


Children 1-3

908,833

children, 26.5%


Pregnant women 19-30

328,968

women, 162.3%


Men 31-50

291,228

men, 3.8%

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