CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUNG HORTICULTURAL FARMERS IN MALANG REGENCY

The horticulture subsector occupies a strategic position in the development of Indonesia's agriculture sector. Farmers have an important role in developing agriculture and promoting the agricultural sector in Indonesia. Therefore this paper aims (1) to find out the distribution of characteristics of young farmers in Malang Regency, (2) to know the managerial capacity and empowerment of young farmers in horticultural agriculture in Malang Regency. This research was conducted in five villages in Malang Regency in 2018. These villages were Codo Village, Dampit Village, Punten Village, Gempol Village, and Ngantru Village. The sample is determined by census with a sample size of 195. The analytical method used is descriptive method. Data obtained using interviews through questionnaires. The results showed that the characteristics of young horticultural farmers in Malang Regency were mostly in their 30s and men. The level of education of young horticultural farmers is still low and on average has 9 years of agricultural experience with low land ownership. An intensive policy is needed for young farmers in terms of land ownership. Most farmers have used cellphones or gadgets to carry out agricultural transactions. Most young horticultural farmers in Malang Regency already have good managerial capacity, but in terms of empowerment is still not optimal. The government and farmer groups need to increase their role in supporting the agriculture of young horticultural farmers to be more developed so that young farmers in Malang Regency do not leave their jobs in the agricultural sector.

Many people think that being a farmer is an unprofitable and non prestigious job, so many young people from rural areas prefer to work in town or abroad because such jobs are more promising. Therefore, younger generation who is willing to work in agricultural sector is declining, resulting in low farmer regeneration. The young generation, who should contribute to agricultural development by investing their money into this sector, tend to add to the urban population and create more challenges to rural agricultural development (Felicia et al., 2016). On the other hand, the number of young people working in non-agricultural sector is increasing. In addition, the fact that the number of older farmers is more dominant than young farmers and a decline in the interest of younger generation in working in agricultural sector can be found not only in Asia, but also in other countries throughout the world, including in the European countries and Canada (Uchiyama, 2014).
On the other hand, an increase in the number of population is followed by an increase in food needs. An increase in income will also be followed by an increase in the need for food quality and variety. Such diversity requires agricultural product processing by skillful farmers. Therefore it is important to understand the characteristics of farmers, especially young farmers. Descriptive research aims to provide a systematic picture of the facts and characteristics of an object or subject precisely (Nazir, 2005). In the second objective to find out managerial capacity

METHODS
This study used a survey method.  (Puspitawati et al., 2018) Index results are grouped into 3 categories: low (0-50%), (51-75%), and high (> 75%). In this study, the primary data were obtained from the field and secondary data collected from the Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics (www.bps.go.id). Literature was obtained from previous studies, books, and other references.

Farmers in Malang Regency
Youth is a group with age ranged from 18 years and above until the initial age of 40 years. The group is the most productive, idealist, mature thinking and wins to be the driving force of development (Silva et al., 2009 (Murphy, 2012). Based on the above references, in this study used the age limit of young farmers from 18 years to 40 years.

Age and Sex
An increasing number of old farmers influences the agricultural demographics in the future. Age will bring effects in terms of agricultural innovation, physical abilities, opinions about the sustainability of efficient agriculture, and environmental concern (organic agriculture) (Zagata and Sutherland, 2015). Figure (Iriyani and Nugrahani, 2017). Farming performed by farmers with productive age can be optimal due to their physical ability (Asih, 2009). Research conducted by Hamilton et al. (2015) in the United Kingdom explains that farmers in the age group of 35 to 45 years showed higher levels of productivity, profitability and investment consistently. In addition,

Land Ownership
Narrow land for farming may become an obstacle for intensively implementing a farming system and may cause farmers to be less able to apply agricultural technology and commercial farm managemen. Land access is also one of the important indicators that encourage young people to take part in agriculture (Rovny, 2016). For most youth, the lack of access to land, capital and other inputs limit their desire   (2018) are in accordance with regional spatial planning are needed so that agriculture is not eroded by modernization.

Technological Mastery
Technological