www.abiosci.com ISSN: 2348-1927 RESEARCH ARTICLE Annals of Biological Sciences 2014, 2 (2):36-39 36 Available online at http://abiosci.com/archive.html Sensory Evaluation of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Grain Treated with Neem-Afri Bio-Pesticide Sani Zakariya* 1 , Wada Nuradden 2 and Yusuf Murtala 3 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Jigawa State University Kafin-Hausa, Nigeria 2 Department f Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria 3 Department of Biology, Katsina University Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT A study was conducted to determine the effects of Neem-Afri bio-pesticide in comparison to synthetic Permethrin (0.60%) as conventional pesticide on the organoleptic quality of cooked cowpea grain after a month storage period. Scores of 10-panelist based on 5-point hedonic scale (rated from poor to excellent) was used to evaluate the effects on cooked cowpea grains served. The result showed that cowpea grains treated with Permethrin (0.60%) recorded higher score on taste (3.40±0.23), odour (3.60±0.12) and appearance (3.73±0.17) of the cooked grain. The overall acceptance of the qualities assessed revealed that cowpea grains treated with Permethrin (0.60%) recorded non- significantly higher score of 3.58±0.12 in comparison to 3.11±0.17 of Neem-Afri treated seeds. The study showed that Neem-Afri biopesticide treated grains could also be welcomed by the general public. Keywords; Biopesticide, Neem-Afri, Organoleptic, Permethrin (0.60%) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION The risks and benefits of chemical pesticides known and documented worldwide probably give an inaccurate perception of the hazards they present to the peasant farmers (who applied them) and the communities within which they live [1-2]. The high risk that arose from the use of pesticides may be the consequence of food poisoning- resulting from direct or indirect food-pesticide admixture, biological magnification or pesticide drift [3], environmental pollution and insect resistance [4-7]. These have encouraged the search and use of plant materials to serve as alternative for chemical pesticides in pest control. Natural products used for the control of pests are generally referred to as bio- pesticides and/or botanicals, when these products are of plant sources. As many as 2000 plant species are being used today in the control of insect pests, most of which are used traditionally as food or medicines by humans [8]. The plant materials provide small-scale farmers with bio- degradable, risk-free and inexpensive method for the control of pests [9]. The effects on pests, of a particular plant powder or extract, vary with the susceptibility and type of pest, and with environmental conditions including temperature, pesticide concentration and method of application [9-10]. Neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Family Meliaceae) is a well known plant that is being used traditionally in the control of many pests both in field and during storage. Different formulations of Neem powder and its extracts have been tested for their efficacy on stored product pests in comparison with other botanicals under field and laboratory