Abstract: Based on the analyses of the status quo of water resources and agricultural water use in China, the avenues to save water and the technical measures of farmland irrigation were explored. In view of the economic status of China, the development of water saving irrigation should lay the emphases on spreading water saving techniques of transporting water, reinforce the research and extension of surface irrigation techniques and water saving irrigation schedules, and develop sprinkler and micro irrigation techniques moderately. And also, in order to increase water use ratio and efficiency maximally, emphasis should be laid on integration of various water saving technical measures to realize water saving in all round way of farmland irrigation.