Łukašenka demands fast-food chain switch fully to local potatoes

August 28, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has directed the Mak.by fast-food chain, which replaced McDonald’s in Belarus two years ago, to use only domestically grown potatoes, Pul Pervogo, his press office’s unofficial Telegram channel reports.
“Starting October 1, Mak.by must not use any imported potatoes or cutlets. Everything on the menu should be Belarusian. Why are you feeding people this American junk?” he said while visiting the Mahiloŭ region’s Kiraŭsk district.
Łukašenka was confident that this year’s potato harvest would be “sufficient,” pointing to an expansion in cultivated areas. He emphasized that Belarusian potatoes would be in high demand abroad, especially in Russia.
He also called on potato suppliers to “establish clear links with retail chains to ensure that potatoes are delivered to stores on time and that the situation that occurred this spring does not repeat itself,” in a reference to potato shortages earlier this year.
In 2024, Belarus’ potato harvest was 22.5 percent lower than in 2023.

Potato prices drop nearly 5 percent after months of sharp increases
- EconomyUnion State common electricity market deal tabled for ratificationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCity residents view Russia as more dangerous than US – pollThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- EconomyEconomy ministry projects GDP growth below 3 percent in 2026The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCentral bank reports core inflation at 7.5 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights defenders document 18 more political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus’ FM mocks EU aspiration as unrealistic “fetish”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyLithuanian police seize €40,000 worth of Belarusian-made cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyBelarus-related events at Warsaw Human Dimension ConferenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyWorld Bank revises downward Belarus’ growth forecast for 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRiga Conference hosts roundtable on Belarus militarizationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsBelarusian diplomat slams Poland, Lithuania over illegal migrationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus, Gazprom sign cooperation roadmap through 2030The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyCichanoŭskaja: We’re unlikely to make up for aid shortfall caused by new US policyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityElectronic barrier helps Poland to detain migrants crossing from Belarus by waterThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsEU lawmakers call for sanctions policy against Russia, Belarus to be extendedThe material is available only to POZIRK+