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การประชุมวิชาการนานาชาติเรื่องกล้วยที่ประเทศเคนยา 128 The Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand Volume 40 Number 4 Oct-Dec 2015 Abstract International Banana Symposium at Kenya Saichol Ketsa Fellow of the Academy of Science, The Royal Society, Thailand Banana is a tropical fruit whose production is the largest of world fruit production. World banana production by type consists of 47% Cavendish, 12% Gros Michel, 24% cooking banana and 17% plantain. Asia produces the largest amount of banana (56%) followed by South America (17%), Africa (16%), North America (10%) and Oceania (1%). India produces the largest amount of banana in the world. Tanzania produces the largest amount of banana in Africa. Most of African countries and the Oceania grow both cooking banana and plantain which must be cooked before consumption, while other countries grow dessert banana (eating ripe banana) for local consumption and export. Ecuador exports the most amount of banana. The International Banana Symposium (Banana and plantain in Africa 2008: Harnessing international partnerships to increase research impact) was held in Mombasa, Kenya, during 5-8 October 2008. Even though Uganda can produce the largest amount of banana in Africa, Kenya has developed more progressively than Uganda. The author was invited to attend this conference to present both oral and poster of the banana research. The organizer took the participants to visit a local banana plantation for export. The author also had a chance to tour the Tsavo National Park (safari) of Kenya. Keywords : banana conference, dessert banana, cooking banana, plantain, production, safari, Kenya