jacintakaranja/kenya-maize-postharvest-loss-analysis

A data analysis project examining maize production trends and post-harvest losses in Kenya (2010–2024) using FAOSTAT data, Excel, and Power BI to identify patterns affecting food security. # kenya-maize-postharvest-loss-analysis A data analysis project examining maize production trends and post-harvest losses in Kenya (2010–2024) using FAOSTAT data, Excel, and Power BI to identify patterns affecting food security. ## Project overview Maize is a key staple food and a major source of livelihood to small-scale farmers in Kenya. Despite increased investments to boost maize production, a significant share of harvested maize is lost after harvest and does not reach the market. Most analyses focus on production gains, with limited attention to post-harvest losses that reduce farmer incomes and threaten food security. This project examines maize production alongside post-harvest losses to highlight inefficiencies within Kenya’s maize value chain. ## Objecives • Analyze national maize production trends in Kenya from 2010 to 2024 • Examine the variability of post-harvest losses over time (2010-2024) • Explore the relationship between production levels and losses ## Data Sources FAOSTAT: National maize production, yield, and post-harvest loss estimates ## Methodology The analysis used national maize production, yield, and post-harvest loss data from 2010 to 2024. Data cleaning involved consistency checks, calculation of loss percentages, and estimation of absolute loss volumes. Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) was conducted to assess temporal trends, variability, and the relationship between maize production and post-harvest losses. The coefficient of determination (R²) was calculated to quantify how much variation in losses is explained by production levels, supported by visual analysis to identify patterns and relationships. ## Tools used Microsoft Excel for data cleaning and validation Power BI for exploratory analysis and interactive visualization. ## Key Insights National maize production exhibits high inter-annual variability Post-harvest losses remain persistently high and volatile, a range of 5% to 25%. Weak correlation between production volume and tota …