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
- Politics
- PoliticsVon der Leyen to visit EU-Belarus borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus customs seize over 600 kg of psychoactive drugsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyOfficials tackle staff shortages with heavier workloads for teachersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsDana Holdings avoids EU sanctions – reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyHouseholds’ disposable income up 6.6 percent in Q2 – BiełstatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyGovernment extends ban on certain Lithuanian importsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: reports point to hundreds of arrests in Biełaruski Hajun caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomySecurities depository says holds $28.34bn in shares and bondsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsPakistan to check workers it sends to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Politics, SocietyСourts hold 10 field sessions over livestock deaths in Viciebsk regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyUN committee calls on Belarus to take urgent measures to protect prisoner KulšaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOver 50 confirmed suspects in Biełaruski Hajun caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy
- Society
- PoliticsŁukašenka offers to share Belarusian state building experience with MoldovaThe material is available only to POZIRK+