The cactus cladode is a fodder rich in nutrients and can be used in animal and human food. The cactus succulent stems (cladodes) and fruits are a source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and water. It is a strategic crop in arid and semi-arid regions, as it is efficient in the use of water, resisting long periods of drought and high temperatures, and also responds well to agronomic practices. In this aspect, it is a plant with high potential to mitigate the impacts of droughts by providing economic, social, and environmental development. In this sense, cropping systems with production techniques such as weeding, fertilization, and irrigation increase productivity. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the efficiency of water use and the productivity of cactus cladodes cv. ‘Mexican elephant ear’ (Opuntia stricta Haw) with supplemental irrigation and cutting periods. The experiment was carried out at the experimental farm of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, located in the municipality of Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four block (areas), four treatments and four replications. The plots were formed by the irrigation frequencies, being 0 (control), 21, 14, and 7 days, with a water volume of 41 m3 ha-1 applied. The accumulated rainfall plus irrigation was 15721.0, 18335.2, 19642.4 and 20426.7 m3 ha-1, and the subplots were harvesting frequency (one or two cuts in 24 months). Supplemental irrigation did not contribute to increase the efficiency of water use and to raise the productivity of cactus cladodes, regardless of one or two cuts in 24 months, with average dry matter productivity values of 47.1, 43.6, 41.9, and 41.2 Mg ha-1 for one cut at 24 months, and 36.4, 31.0, 29.5, and 29.1 Mg ha-1 and two cuts at 24 months, respectively. Therefore, the increase in water supply under the conditions of the experiment did not favor the water use efficiency and the productivity of cactus cladodes cv. ‘Mexican elephant ear’, regardless of cut-off frequencies.