Sorghum and millet are important food crops in the semi-arid tropics, but their yields
have remained low and unstable because of a range of environmental constraints.
Increasing and stabilizing their production is thus an important part of ICRISAT's
mandate, and we were pleased to sponsor with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) this symposium on the agrometeorology of sorghum and millet.
The main objective of the symposiumâ??the fourth in a WMO series on the
agrometeorology of single cropsâ??was to encourage the practical use of climatic
data to improve production, by assessing the extent and intensity of climatic risks
and by studying the response of the crop to its growing environment. In the Sahel
region of Africa, for example, such studies may play a key role in helping farmers
adjust age-old cropping practices to meet changes in climate. Besides the
scientific papers and discussions, the symposium included a practical workshop on
computer techniques, during which participants used ICRISAT computers and
operational models to analyze data from their own countries. Work is already under
way to translate some of the symposium recommendations into practice.
I hope these proceedings will be of help to both researchers and agricultural
planners throughout the semi-arid tropics.