Abstract: This paper uses the panel data of 2003—2015 provinces of the Yangtze River Economic Zone and the DEA-Malmquist index to analyse the total factor productivity of agriculture, Through the whole Yangtze River Economic Zone, provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Economic Zone, sub-regional in the Yangtze River Economic Zone, the total factor productivity of agriculture in these areas were analyzed and decomposed. The main results showed that：①the total factor productivity of agriculture in the Yangtze River Economic Zone keeps growing, and the contribution rate of each component factor is different;②the provincial differences and regional differences of total factor productivity of agriculture in the Yangtze River Economic Zone are obvious;③in the process of total factor decomposition of agriculture in Yangtze River Economic Zone, there exists hysteresis among the factors. Effch and techch should be improved together; improve the agricultural production environment and develop moderate scale management; the provinces, cities and regions in the Yangtze River Economic Zone should work together to complement each other and exchange advantages.

Key words: Yangtze River Economic Zone, total factor productivity, malmquist index