[Even] a handful of seeds is not sown because there is no guarantee of the [desired results]. This is implied here.

[When there is no genuine ruler,] a wife does not stay under the control of her husband because there is no one to discipline her in case of adultery.

NOTE. Why don’t the seeds that are sown produce the desired results in the absence of a bona fide king? The answer to this can be found in a conversation between the presiding goddess of earth and King Pṛthu, a śakty-āveśa incarnation of the Supreme Lord as recorded in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.18.3-7).

Pṛthu Mahārāja was angry with Bhūmi for not doing her part in producing food grains, as a result of which his citizens were starving. When King Pṛthu cornered Bhūmi-devī and asked her why she didn’t help in the production of food grains, she spoke the following:

asmil loke ’thavāmuṣmin munibhis tattva-darśibhiḥ
dṛṣṭā yogāḥ prayuktāś ca puṁsāṁ śreyaḥ-prasiddhaye

To benefit all human society, not only in this life but in the next, the great seers and sages have prescribed various methods conducive to the prosperity of the people in general.

tān ātiṣṭhati yaḥ samyag upāyān pūrva-darśitān
avaraḥ śraddhayopeta upeyān vindate ’ñjasā

One who follows the principles and instructions enjoined by the great sages of the past can utilize these instructions for practical purposes. Such a person can very easily enjoy life and pleasures.

tān anādṛtya yo ’vidvān arthān ārabhate svayam
tasya vyabhicaranty arthā ārabdhāś ca punaḥ punaḥ

A foolish person who manufactures his own ways and means through mental speculation and does not recognize the authority of the sages who lay down unimpeachable directions is simply unsuccessful again and again in his attempts.

purā sṛṣṭā hy oṣadhayo brahmaṇā yā viśāmpate
bhujyamānā mayā dṛṣṭā asadbhir adhṛta-vrataiḥ

My dear King, the seeds, roots, herbs and grains, which were created by Lord Brahmā in the past, are now being used by nondevotees, who are devoid of all spiritual understanding.

apālitānādṛtā ca bhavadbhir loka-pālakaiḥ
corī-bhūte ’tha loke ’haṁ yajñārthe ’grasam oṣadhīḥ

My dear King, not only are grains and herbs being used by nondevotees, but, as far as I am concerned, I am not being properly maintained. Indeed, I am being neglected by kings who are not punishing these rascals who have turned into thieves by using grains for sense gratification. Consequently I have hidden all these seeds, which were meant for the performance of sacrifice.

In his purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.18.6, Prabhupāda points out what Bhūmi-devī wanted to convey:

Lord Brahmā created this material world for the use of the living entities, but it was created according to a plan that all living entities who might come into it to dominate it for sense gratification would be given directions by Lord Brahmā in the Vedas in order that they might ultimately leave it and return home, back to Godhead. All necessities grown on earth — namely fruits, flowers, trees, grains, animals and animal by-products — were created for use in sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. However, the planet earth in the shape of a cow herein submits that all these utilities are being used by nondevotees, who have no plans for spiritual understanding. Although there are immense potencies within the earth for the production of grains, fruits and flowers, this production is checked by the earth itself when it is misused by nondevotees, who have no spiritual goals. Everything belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and everything can be used for His satisfaction. Things should not be used for the sense gratification of the living entities. This is the whole plan of material nature according to the directions of this material nature.

... The whole Vedic plan is that the misguided conditioned souls who have come to lord it over material nature should be trained to become dhṛta-vrata. This means that they should take a vow to satisfy their senses or enjoy material life only by satisfying the senses of the Supreme Lord. Activities intended to satisfy the senses of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, are called kṛṣṇārthe ’khila-ceṣṭāḥ. This indicates that one can attempt all kinds of work, but one should do so to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. This is described in Bhagavad-gītā as yajñārthāt karma. The word yajña indicates Lord Viṣṇu. We should work only for His satisfaction. In modern times (Kali-yuga), however, people have forgotten Viṣṇu altogether, and they conduct their activities for sense gratification. Such people will gradually become poverty-stricken, for they cannot use things which are to be enjoyed by the Supreme Lord for their own sense gratification. If they continue like this, there will ultimately be a state of poverty, and no grains, fruits or flowers will be produced. Indeed, it is stated in the Twelfth Canto of Bhāgavatam that at the end of Kali-yuga people will be so polluted that there will no longer be any grains, wheat, sugarcane or milk.

Since the absence of a bona fide ruler will lead to an unspiritual population, Mother Earth will naturally not cooperate and therefore sowing seeds would become useless.