The gloom in the handicraft industry deepened with a decline of over 7 percent in export during the first half of the current fiscal year, affecting self employed small and medium enterprises. Export of handicrafts in this period was valued at Rs 1.48 billion, dropping from Rs 1.58 billion last year. According to the Handicrafts Association of Nepal (HAN), the overall export figure of handicraft goods slumped due to a 26 per cent decline in the export of pashmina?the third largest export item in the national portfolio and the largest in handicrafts. Hit by a global slowdown and domestic turmoil, pashmina exports plunged to Rs 675.61 million compared to Rs 916.03 million recorded during the same period last year.