Teen strives for agri-science success
Published:Tuesday | August 3, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Having always shown an interest in the sciences, 18-year-old Oshea Nelson has developed a knack for agricultural science and intends on pursuing this as her career.
Nelson graduated from Albert Town High School in Trelawny and works as a lab technician for the Christiana Potato Growers Co-operative Association Limited.
She beams with confidence and enthusiasm when explaining how she raises ground provisions in test tubes.
Nelson said an Irish potato sprout's soil, while it is grown in the lab, is liquid containing macro nutrients. Over time, she added, each sprout will produce at least 15 plants.
From there, the plants are transplanted into real soil and nurtured. Nelson said the purpose of this research is to one day be able to grow and reap disease-free crops.
Nelson showed off sample test tubes and produce, such as potatoes and ginger, inside the Manchester parish booth at 2010's Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show in Clarendon over the holiday weekend.
The former sixth-form student hopes to attend the University of the West Indies, where she can further pursue studies in agricultural science-related subjects.
"The agriculture field is quite wide and quite exciting. People don't have to farm, they can branch off into science," she said, while noting that more school leavers and youth should get involved in the agriculture sector.