Post-Harvest Loss
Percentage of harvest lost during storage.
Formula
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Example
Store 1000 kg, 850 kg left: L = 15%
How it works
This formula tells you what fraction of the original harvested mass has disappeared after storage, handling, or transport, then converts that fraction into a percentage. It works by comparing the mass at the start to the mass left at the end: the difference is the amount lost, and dividing by the initial mass shows how big that loss is relative to the original amount.
When to use it
Use this when you want to measure how much crop mass has been lost after harvest, such as from drying, spoilage, pests, or damage in storage. It is useful in farm management, food supply studies, and post-harvest quality checks.
Worked example, step by step
A farmer harvests 500 kg of maize. After storage, 460 kg remains. Use L = (m_i - m_f) / m_i × 100 L = (500 - 460) / 500 × 100 L = 40 / 500 × 100 L = 0.08 × 100 L = 8% So, the post-harvest loss is 8%.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the final mass in the denominator instead of the initial mass
- Forgetting to multiply by 100 to convert the fraction to a percentage
- Putting the masses in the wrong order, which can give a negative loss
Did You Know?
Up to a third of the world's food is lost after harvest — better storage is a huge lever against hunger.
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