Poor connectivity, weak price discovery, and dependence on intermediaries undermine farm viability in the Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas despite demonstrating strong local production capacity and adaptability. While self-help groups, markets, and value-added products are emerging as solutions, limited infrastructure, training, and aggregation prevent scaling. Strengthening farmer producer organisations, post-harvest facilities, digital market linkages, and youth-focused agri-entrepreneurship can stabilise incomes and sustain hill agriculture. The views in this commentary are that of the author.