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We apply stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) techniques to a provincial level data set to measure technical and water efficiency in China's agricultural production from 1999 to 2002. The determinants of the efficiencies are identified together with the physical determinant structure of the irrigation factor, which refers to the water use per irrigated land area. The study yields the following three main results: corn is the most important crop in improving economic and water efficiency; the mean annual temperature is highly elastic to the change in water efficiency; water reservoirs facilitate the utilisation of irrigation water but could lead to less efficiency in water use.