Finger millet, pearl millet, and sorghum are important drought-tolerant crops used as primary staple crops in drylands. Despite their long history, they have received less attention in recent years and their production has decreased. New models show that annual precipitation is not the only factor affecting their agriculture, but other variables like growing cycle duration, soil water-holding capacity, and soil nutrient availability also play a crucial role, as evidenced by ethnographic data. The traditional cultivation practices of these crops can be a sustainable response to the increasing aridity levels worldwide and can contribute to the resilience of dryland agriculture.