South Africa, Maize, 2002

South Africa's estimated postharvest losses for maize in 2002 was 94,577 tonnes or 17.3% which had an estimated value of more than 16 million US dollar.

As for nutrition 328 billion kcal were lost, which is the equivalent of more than 367 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 547,639 tonnes
Estimated postharvest losses 17.3% / 94,577 tonnes / > 16 million USD
Production quantity Estimated postharvest losses
82.7301 Production quantity: 547,639 tonnes 17.3 Estimated PHL: 94,577 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 93.62695 Remaining: 93.62695%
Est. PHL: 6.37305%
6.37305 Remaining: 93.62695%
Est. PHL: 6.37305%
Further drying 89.63608 Remaining: 89.63608%
Est. PHL: 3.99087%
3.99087 Remaining: 89.63608%
Est. PHL: 3.99087%
Threshing and Shelling 88.29901 Remaining: 88.29901%
Est. PHL: 1.33707%
1.33707 Remaining: 88.29901%
Est. PHL: 1.33707%
Transport from field 85.89174 Remaining: 85.89174%
Est. PHL: 2.40727%
2.40727 Remaining: 85.89174%
Est. PHL: 2.40727%
Household-level storage 81.46014 Remaining: 81.46014%
Est. PHL: 4.4316%
4.4316 Remaining: 81.46014%
Est. PHL: 4.4316%
Transport to market 80.46014 Remaining: 80.46014%
Est. PHL: 1%
1 Remaining: 80.46014%
Est. PHL: 1%
Market storage 77.81014 Remaining: 77.81014%
Est. PHL: 2.65%
2.65 Remaining: 77.81014%
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

367,179

people, 0.6%


Children 1-3

911,894

children, 26.6%


Pregnant women 19-30

330,076

women, 162.8%


Men 31-50

292,209

men, 3.8%

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