Kathmandu, March 2

The export of handicraft has decreased due to the impact of the earthquake that hit the country on April 25, 2015 and the border blockade.

According to statistics provided by the Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal, handicraft items worth Rs 5.035 billion were exported from the country in the Fiscal Year 2013/014 whereas the export of the same was Rs 4.78 billion in the Fiscal Year 2014/015.

Federation President Dharma Raj Shakya said handicraft trade was in the doldrums as works could not be carried out for many months following the devastating earthquake.

Similarly, the Federation stated that transaction worth Rs 1.62 billion was recorded in the first four months of the current fiscal.

Twenty-five types of handicraft goods including those made from fibre and others are exported.