<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000923876-04-000002
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040325
<FILING-DATE>20040325
<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>04691169
</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>2004-03-25</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>2004-03-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>370</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.54</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>127223</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Issuer's 2000 Stock Award Plan, the Issuer's Board of Directors approved today the buyout of the employee tax withholding amount of the Reporting Person's vested deferred stock units which were exchangeable for shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The 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>Jennife Hankes Painter, by POA for Keith Brackpool</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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