Udon Thani:The Department of Agriculture has refuted reports that lemon trees, a significant horticultural crop, cost 12,000 baht each at the Udon Thani International Horticultural Exposition. The department clarified that this was not the actual purchase price and emphasized that the circulated document was not the approved version.

According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Agriculture is preparing to consult with its legal team to take action against those spreading the misleading information. Ms. Sasiya Pantan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, confirmed that the department purchased only six lemon trees for the event, and the purchase price significantly differed from the reported figure.

The document in question, which was leaked and submitted by another agency, was not approved by the Department of Agriculture. The department revised the Terms of Reference to align with market prices, and the document was not used by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in its budget request. Ms. Sasinya stated that the dissemination of this incomplete document led to public misunderstanding and damaged the department's reputation.

The Department of Agriculture plans to consult its legal team to consider legal action under the Computer Crime Act and its amendments. Ms. Sasinya also urged the public to verify information from official sources before sharing, as inaccurate information could damage the country's image and undermine the efforts of those involved in organizing the international horticultural event.