The status of mountain farming on marginal lands in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH) is described. Three success stories concerning the productive use of marginal lands in different regions of the HKH are presented: (1) fruit farming in Himachal Pradesh, India; (2) cardamom farming on the forest floor in Sikkim, India; and (3) large-scale planting of seabuckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides ) in China. These examples reflect the incorporation of a niche-based mountain perspective in planning the development of marginal lands. In all cases, suitable technological options were identified. These cases illustrate that marginal lands are not constraints to productivity but in fact are huge, untapped potential resources if appropriate technological choices are made. Some policy options for the development of marginal lands are then discussed.