<span style="color: #222222;">Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy has defended the three agriculture reform bills brought by the Centre, saying they are in the best interests of the farmers. In a rejoinder to the DMK President M.K. Stalin, he said, the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill will ensure the farmers get the agreed prices of their products in contract farming. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In a statement issued in Chennai today, he said, the bill does not compel a farmer to sell his products to any particular trader.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Chief Minister, who is also the AIADMK co-coordinator has said, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill ensures freedom for a farmer to sell his produce in any of the trade areas in the country, besides strengthening the agricultural marketing infrastructure.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">On the Essential Commodities Amendment Bill, Mr Palaniswamy has said, it seeks to regulate prices of essential commodities during stressful situations to safeguard the interest of the common public.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Earlier, the Opposition leader M.K. Stalin questioned the AIADMK member in the Lok Sabha supporting the bills, saying it shows its lack of will to defend the interests of the farmers. </span><br />''