Abstract: Based on the provincial panel data from 2008 to 2022, the CRITIC weight, coupling coordination degree, Moran index and obstacle degree model were used to analyze the agricultural water resources security and food security of 31 provinces in China. The results showed that the level of agricultural water resources security was high and the wave was large. The overall level of food security was not high, with a large increase in 2008—2016 and a small increase in 2017—2022, both showing an upward trend. The spatial pattern was not balanced. The agricultural water resources security presented the spatial characteristics of the eastern and central regions > the whole country > the western and northeast regions, and the food security presented the overall situation of northeast > central region > eastern region > the whole country > western region. Agricultural water resources security and food security were generally at a high level of coupling. The coordination level of agricultural water resources security and food security in each province was rising steadily, but the development of coupling level was not balanced, showing the highest in the central region, close to the eastern region, northeastern and the whole country, and the lowest in the western region. There was a significant positive spatial correlation between the coupling coordination degree of agricultural water resources security and food security in China. Most provinces were distributed in the high-high and low-low quadrants, and the coupling coordination degree of most provinces showed positive spatial correlation characteristics. The agricultural water resources security and food security in different regions were limited by the differences in local conditions. The total industrial water consumption and per capita water resources were the main common obstacles to agricultural water resources security. Road density, sown area of grain crops and freight carrying capacity were the main common obstacles to food security.

Key words: agricultural water resources security, food security, coupling coordination, space-time pattern, obstacle factor