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.