dc.description.abstract | This study, which was conducted at the Wesley Manoel dos Santos Settlement, at Sinop, MT, aims to identify what functions the economic and social organizations of an associative and cooperative character, existing in some of their 497 plots, have contributed to fulfilling the income generated by farmers and settlers. It also sets out to determine under what productive conditions, socioeconomic and sociocultural, its role may be, or already is being used, in strengthening their income. The main theoretical basis of the bibliographies of this research are: José Vicente Tavares dos Santos, dealing with the colonization in Mato Grosso, Sérgio Schneider, Maria de Nazareth Baudel Wanderley, examining family farming, José de Souza Martins, Ricardo Abramovay, Luiz Gaiger, Rosemeire Aparecida Scopinho, association and cooperation, José de Souza Martins, Márcio Pochmann, addressing aspects of social issue; Luiz Gaiger and Jean-Louis Laville, developing the social economy and the consequent generated income. The main research method used to obtain the information and statistics, was by means of a standardized questionnaire. For greater reliability and accuracy of the data collected, the results of a probability analysis were applied with an error margin of 12.47%, and a confidence level of 95%. The main results clearly show the importance of positive factors and associations which contribute to the empowerment of the Settlement, such as the organization of livestock, milk production, bananas and flour, and also for the purchase of equipment and farming related materials. In the long term, institutions may strengthen the sustainability of the settlement if there are actual implemented policies for production and marketing in a cooperative or associative structure. | en |