<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000923876-04-000001
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040209
<FILING-DATE>20040209
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CADIZ INC
<CIK>0000727273
<ASSIGNED-SIC>0700
<IRS-NUMBER>770313235
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>100 WILSHIRE BLVD.
<STREET2>SUITE 1600
<CITY>SANTA MONICA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90401
<PHONE>3108994700
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>100 WILSHIRE BLVD.
<STREET2>SUITE 1600
<CITY>SANTA MONICA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90401-1111
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CADIZ LAND CO INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>PACIFIC AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920602
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ARIDTECH INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19880523
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BRACKPOOL KEITH
<CIK>0000923876
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-12114
<FILM-NUMBER>04579228
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>777 S FIGUEROA ST
<STREET2>STE 4250
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90017
<PHONE>2132711600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CADIZ LAND COMPANY INC
<STREET2>10535 FOOTHILL BLVD SUITE 150
<CITY>RANCHO CUCAMONGA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91730
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000727273</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CADIZ INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDZI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000923876</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRACKPOOL KEITH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CADIZ INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>777 S. FIGUEROA STREET, SUITE 4250</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>80000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.5</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>127593</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Compensation for services rendered granted in stock at the Reporting Person's election of cash or stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 615 deferred stock units previously reported.  All share numbers and prices reflect the 25 for one reverse stock split occurring in December 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of 2,000 shares owned by a foundation for which he is a trustee and 2,000 shares owned by his separated spouse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jennifer Hankes Painter, by Power of Attorney for Keith Brackpool</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
