The rural associativism consists of an integrated system of farmers and, along with cooperation, plays an important role of participation in the creation processes and strengthening of subsistence strategies focused in the permanence of family farmers in rural settlements. To keep living in these plots, however, has become a major challenge for families across Brazil, particularly in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. This study was performed aiming to research about mechanisms related to associativism and their display in rural settlement Lagoa Grande located in the city of Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The methodology was field research. The data collection was conduced thought semi-structured interviews, and with visits to the farm of each family. According to results, various deficiencies in the settlement could be mitigated or remedied with higher performance of an Association of Inhabitants. The productive efficiency of plots and, the resulting settling of families, besides public policies, depends on restructuration of the Association of Inhabitants, seeking to restore confidence, with the participation of the community, collaboration, and exigency for fulfillment of the role of board of directors.